Zechariah 13:9 (KJV)

9 And I will bring the third part through the fire, and will refine them as silver is refined, and will try them as gold is tried: they shall call on my name, and I will hear them: I will say, It is my people: and they shall say, The Lord is my God.

When we face suffering, it’s easy to ask, "Why, God?" But Zechariah 13:9 gives us a glimpse of God’s purpose in our trials. Just like silver and gold are refined through fire, God allows us to go through hardships to purify and strengthen us.

It’s not punishment—it’s transformation & growth.

God knows that we can’t humble ourselves or refine our own hearts, so He takes us through situations that bring us closer to Him. In the original Hebrew, the word "refine" (צָרַף, tsaraph) refers to the process of purifying metals, removing impurities to reveal their true value. In the same way, God uses suffering to strip away the things in our lives that don’t reflect or align with his will. One thing we often forget is that even Jesus, God’s own Son, went through suffering. Jesus endured unimaginable pain and hardship, yet He did so with the purpose of obtaining salvation for us.

Jesus is a high priest who can sympathize with our weaknesses, having been tempted and tested in every way as we are. Jesus went through it first and understands our burdens.

Satan tries to deceive us by telling us that God doesn't understand our pain and that he's absent in our struggles. God isn’t absent in our pain, he’s present, walking with us, refining us, and drawing us closer to His heart.

We aren’t called to avoid the struggles of life but to overcome them. We live in a world that often promotes avoidance. Avoiding discomfort, pain, and anything that challenges us. But life in Christ isn’t about avoiding suffering. It’s about overcoming it through Jesus. We don’t avoid hardships; we conquer them by trusting in the finished work of Christ.

Jesus has already overcome the world, and because of Him, we can walk through the fire without being consumed.

Just like Jesus suffered on the cross to reconcile us, God allows the suffering in our lives to draw us closer. God’s is refining us each and every day. 

As we go through life, we will face challenges, trials, and sufferings. But instead of focusing on how to avoid them, we can embrace them as opportunities to grow in our faith. Through Jesus, we are more than conquerors. Our salvation is secure, and no amount of suffering can take that away. When we accept this truth, we find peace in the midst of the fire. We know that God is with us, working all things for our good, even when we don’t understand the why. 

I want you to reflect on the struggles and challenges you are facing today. Are you trying to avoid them or are you trusting God to refine you through them? Let go of the fear of suffering, and embrace the truth that God is using these moments to draw you closer to Him. Rest in the finished work of Jesus, knowing that your salvation is secure and that every trial is an opportunity to grow in faith.

Amen!