7. road to 24: the refining process.

trials and afflictions happen to the best christians, even those who have valid reasons to think and hope well of themselves. these afflictions comes or are temptations endeavoured by the devil to draw men into sin and to keep them from their work with God or make them unfit for it. but because there’s nothing spoilt in God’s hands, he uses those trying times to try and improve our graces! to purify us like the gold in the furnace.

our trials may be many and of diverse kinds, so therefore we have need to put on the whole armour of God and be armed on every side because temptations lies on every side too!

i must not sink into a sad and frustrated mood that will only make me faint under my trials. i must endeavor to keep my spirit dilated and engaged in joyfulness. being joyful in trials proceeds from a place of love for God and not anger for him.

in staying and letting his refining process work in me, I am confirmed to him, edifying myself and brightening my graces.

therefore, there is reason to count it all joy when trials comes to us because the benefits are much more greater.