Flourishing in the Fire: Purpose of suffering in the fire: Testing

Throughout the Bible, our suffering is often linked with imagery of furnaces and fire. To  understand the value in our suffering, it’s essential to recognize that the value isn’t in the experience of suffering itself. For, though the painful heat of the furnace is the visible, tangible evidence of the fire, and probably its work, we must remember that behind every furnace in life, no matter how small or large, there is always One who permits and guides the fire for His purposes. It is in those purposes that we should look and rest in the value of our suffering.

As we reflect on the scriptures, we recognize at least five purposes of suffering in the fiery furnace:

1.      Testing

2.      Conforming (Refining, reforming)

3.      Conforming (Forming, transforming)

4.      Drawing (to bring toward something by force, influence, or attraction)

5.      Deepening

Ultimately, we understand that all His purposes in our suffering are for our good and His glory. In the months ahead, we will begin exploring each of these purposes of the fiery furnace. The first one we’ll introduce is the purpose of testing.

Purpose 1: Testing
“Count it all (full, greatest, nothing but) joy, my brothers, when you meet fiery trials of various kinds, for you know the testing of your faith produces steadfastness (endurance) . . .” James 1:2, 3

For most of my life, I have felt disappointed, irritated, and even angry at the interruptions and disruptions caused by trials and suffering. They seem to appear out of nowhere, landing in the middle of my path. They interfere with my plans, hurt my feelings, and cause real distress. Yes, I “meet” these trials but, contrary to what I used to think, they are never random; they are placed both purposely and by the permission of my loving, heavenly Father, to grow and gradually transform me into the image of Christ. 

James is saying that all trials are purposely placed in our lives to test our faith. Maybe you’re like me when you hear this, immediately recalling tests in school, trying to prove to your teacher that you knew enough to pass. In juxtaposition, the Greek word James used for “testing” in this context is dokimion, meaning, “to prove something is genuine.” In ancient times, the word was associated with metal coins and the process of demonstrating they were genuine and not counterfeit. In the context of testing through suffering, to whom does it prove genuineness? Certainly not to the Lord, for our faith has been given to us by Him. Of course it’s genuine—he gives it to us (Eph. 2:8-9).

One purpose of the suffering our Heavenly Father allows is to prove the genuineness of our faith to us. Every suffering, every trial, is a gift allowing us to observe and experience the genuineness of our trust and surrender to the loving goodness of God, which, James says, leads to steadfastness or endurance as we continue on the path of righteousness. Then, during a season of suffering or the reflection afterward, when we recognize the hand of our loving Father at work, we see evidence (proof) of our growing faith (i.e., active trust). This, in turn, grows our love and confidence, in our Heavenly Father, becoming more convinced that He will only allow things that are ultimately for our good—both in this life and the next—and His glory.

In the next Flourishing in the Fire article, we will focus on the second purpose of suffering in the fiery furnace: conforming: i.e., refining and reforming.