Dear Church,

“Beloved, think it not strange concerning the fiery trial which is to try you.” 1 Peter 4:12 A story was told to me about a poor old widow who fell into difficult times. She wrote a letter to God in this way.    

“Dear God

I really hope this letter reaches you. Every week, a hundred dollars is given to me by the Social Security but a burglar entered my house and stole the allowance for next week which I just withdrew. What shall I do, Lord? I am widowed, old and alone. There is no one in the world to help me and I have only enough food for another two days. Please help me God...

Yours truly,
Mrs. Grimm.”

Seeing a letter addressed with only the words “To God”, the post master opened it and read the letter. He felt sorry for the widow and so he passed the bag around to collect some money for the poor woman. He managed to collect $96 and all the workers at the post office watched as he placed the money in the envelope and arranged for it to be delivered to the widow. 

The following week the post office received a letter addressed to God again. Everyone gathered round in anticipation, wondering what the old widow’s response would be. She wrote…..

“Dear God,

Thank you so much for Your quick answer. How can I thank You enough? You are so good. However, I just want You to know that there was only $96. $4 is missing. It must be those damn postmen who have taken the money!

Yours Gratefully,
Mrs. Grimm"

After a good laugh, I could not help thinking that God is often placed in the position of the postmen in this story. He loves us and often helps and blesses us. Often however, He gets blamed for the bad things that happen instead of acknowledgment and gratitude for the blessings He gives to both believers and unbelievers.

For Christians, however, there is another aspect to trials and testings. Looking at the scripture verse above, let us remember that trials and testings can have a good purpose. So when we go through them, we must not consider it “Strange” or unusual. Remember the following thoughts for our encouragement.

1. It takes fire to purify gold. You are precious gold in God’s sight. You are treasured and worth His love and attention to shape you into the vessel fit for the Master’s use.  

2. God allows fiery trials to refine us. Nothing brings out the luster to our character and tests your commitment in your heart like opposition from the enemy. Wherever you see a person who reflects the character of Christ, you can be sure that he has been tested by fire.

3. Whatever fire you are in, remember that God holds the thermostat in His hand and knows the heat required to burn away the impurities that would hinder His purpose in your life. So let the impurities burn away quickly!
 
4. Fiery trials bring out character in you. The flames teach patience, prayer, forgiveness, faith and a lot more of such character-building lessons.

 “All discipline for the moment seems not to be joyful, but sorrowful; yet to those who have been trained by it, afterwards it yields the peaceful fruit of righteousness.” (Heb 12:11 NAS)

Think of it as God’s investment. He is a good businessman. He does all He can to keep the investment He has in you! More than that, He expects a return for His investment. We think and believe a lot in what God can do for us but the truth and real issue is what God wants from us! He will do whatever it takes to get it from you. He invested His Son’s life to buy you back from that robber satan. And He’ll do whatever He can to protect that investment and to see that it brings forth purified gold that will end up in heaven as His treasured possession.

Apostle John wrote,

“He’ll place everything true in its proper place before God; everything false He’ll put out with the trash to be burned” (Matt 3:12 TM)

I hope that helps you to understand some of the things that are happening in your life lately. Tell yourself …. 

“I shall be an excellent investment of God, worth more than my weight in gold to Him who has loved me with an everlasting love!” Amen!

 Praying for you always,

Ps Khim and Ps Ang

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