by: Janie Denney
November 10, 2026
“Rejoice in the Lord always; again I will say, rejoice. Let your reasonableness be known to everyone. The Lord is at hand; do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus”
Ecclesiastes 3 says, there is a season and a time for every purpose under heaven—the good, the bad, the beautiful, and the ugly.
Are you in a season of refinement? Are you facing trials or difficulties of many kinds? Could it be that the Lord has intentionally allowed this season of the refiner’s fire for His glory? According to Scripture, I would argue, yes. God is sovereign, and there is nothing that happens on Earth that doesn’t sift through His hands. He is allowing this season to happen for His Kingdom purposes: 2 Corinthians 4:17 (ESV) says, “For this light momentary affliction is preparing for us an eternal weight of glory beyond all comparison…”
Donnie Swaggart says, “The refiner's fire is the loving and purposeful work of the Lord through the Holy Spirit, removing from the believer that which does not belong until the believer becomes a complete reflection of the Refiner.”
The refiner’s fire is mentioned in Scripture in the Old and New Testaments. Have you considered what the Bible says about trials and the refiner’s fire? In 1 Peter 1:6-7 (NIV), Peter writes, “In all this you greatly rejoice, though now for a little while you may have had to suffer grief in all kinds of trials. These have come so that the proven genuineness of your faith—of greater worth than gold, which perishes even though refined by fire—may result in praise, glory, and honor when Jesus Christ is revealed.”
God puts us through the fire, so that all of us would burn, and only that of which is Him would be glorified in our lives. He is transforming us from Glory to Glory in His image. It is a blessing we get to suffer on this side of heaven just as Christ our King did. We will not know suffering once we are in heaven.
James tells us in James 1:2-4 (NIV) to “Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance. Let perseverance finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything.”
When you are tempted or tested to complain, I want to challenge you to rejoice just as the Bible says. Ask God to give you the wisdom, knowledge, and discernment to see Christ in your circumstances. 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18 (NIV) says, “Rejoice always, pray continually, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.” Amen!
Prayer
Lord Jesus, thank You for the trials I am facing on earth. I choose to rejoice because Your Word says in 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18 to rejoice always, pray continually, and give thanks in every circumstance. Today, I make my requests known to You, [pray what you are going through and make your requests known]. I pray for Your peace to come upon me. Help me rejoice and be content in all circumstances. Thank You for allowing me to go through the refiner’s fire so that I can be made more like You.
Worship: Another In the Fire - Hillsong United
Further Study
Malachi 3:2–3, Zechariah 13:9, Job 23:10, 1 Corinthians 3:12–15
Related Posts
Ecclesiastes 3 says, there is a season and a time for every purpose under heaven—the good, the bad, the beautiful, and the ugly.