The Question of God’s Testing
As a young Christian, one of the questions I wrestled with the most was whether or not a loving God would test His people—being refined by God seemed painful and not at all like a good thing. I remember this question coming up constantly in my life. I had conversations with atheists, other Christians, and even in my own internal dialogue. It was a question I continually struggled with.
I often thought that God could not possibly be good if He allowed bad things to happen to the people He loved. For some reason, the idea of God allowing these difficult things felt evil to me. I suspect I am not the only one who has ever come to this conclusion—especially growing up in a place like the USA.
The Danger of Comfort and False Theology
In places where Christians live freely (like in the USA) and without much difficulty (or persecution for their beliefs), a subtle but dangerous theology can sometimes emerge. Slowly, Christians in these places begin to believe that God’s goodness is directly tied to their comfort. To a degree, this is true—God is the giver of every good and perfect gift. The danger comes when we start to think that God would never allow something bad to happen to us. We slowly start to believe that God would never test or refine us, and if He did, it would mean He isn’t good. But the truth is, we are refined by God for our good and His glory.
The Biblical Call to Be Refined by God
I have a theory about why this idea is so devastating to people. I think they struggle because of a very common American cultural message: You are perfect just the way you are. This is such a common message that even some Christians use it to describe how God views His people. At face value, this message feels positive, harmless, and, to some, even biblical. Unfortunately, it’s not. In reality, this message is actually the exact opposite of biblical truth. At its core, the Good News of Jesus is the reality that we are broken and in desperate need of a Savior. The cultural message says, You are perfect just the way you are, and you should never change. The biblical message says, Jesus died for you just the way you are, but He desires and calls you to change. We are refined by God so that we may grow into the people He intends us to be.
Scripture’s Emphasis on Refinement
I began to realize I had a false belief on this topic during my freshman year of college as I started reading through the Bible for the first time. I discovered that the idea of God testing and refining us was an extremely common theme throughout Scripture. The message was clear: our good God will indeed allow difficulties and trials to come our way so that we can be tested and ultimately refined into the men and women He desires us to be. We are refined by God through our trials and challenges.
This idea is literally everywhere in Scripture. Just check out these verses:
- Job 23:10 – “But He knows where I am going. And when He tests me, I will come out as pure as gold.”
- Proverbs 17:3 – “Fire tests the purity of silver and gold, but the Lord tests the heart.”
- Psalm 66:10 – “You have tested us, O God; you have purified us like silver.”
- Zechariah 13:9 – “I will bring that group through the fire and make them pure. I will refine them like silver and purify them like gold. They will call on my name, and I will answer them. I will say, ‘These are my people,’ and they will say, ‘The Lord is our God.’”
- 1 Peter 1:6-7 – “So be truly glad. There is wonderful joy ahead, even though you must endure many trials for a little while. These trials will show that your faith is genuine. It is being tested as fire tests and purifies gold—though your faith is far more precious than mere gold. So when your faith remains strong through many trials, it will bring you much praise and glory and honor on the day when Jesus Christ is revealed to the whole world.”
- Romans 5:3-5 – “We can rejoice, too, when we run into problems and trials, for we know that they help us develop endurance. And endurance develops strength of character, and character strengthens our confident hope of salvation. And this hope will not lead to disappointment. For we know how dearly God loves us, because he has given us the Holy Spirit to fill our hearts with his love.”
This list could go on and on…
Embracing Refinement as Proof of God’s Love
As you can see, the reality that God refines those whom He loves through difficulties and tests is woven throughout Scripture. Across both the Old and New Testaments, across several different biblical authors, and across multiple historical timeframes—it is everywhere. And the message is always the same: God allows tests and difficulties for the sake of refining His people. We are refined by God, not abandoned by Him.
Brothers and sisters, God’s refining in our lives is actually proof of His love for us! The writer of Hebrews says, “For the Lord disciplines the one He loves, and chastises every son whom He receives” (Hebrews 12:6). And Jesus says in John 15 “My Father is the vinedresser. Every branch in me . . . that does bear fruit He prunes, that it may bear more fruit.” (John 15:1-2).
God desires to refine us. He cares deeply about the men and women we are becoming, even though many of us are already adults of all ages. He cares so deeply about our faith and character that He will absolutely allow trials, tests, and difficulties to come our way. God wants to refine us. We are refined by God so that we may be more like Christ.
Seeing Trials from God’s Perspective
I believe that as we seek to live the Christian life, understanding God’s desire to refine us is a foundational principle. If we don’t grasp that God tests and disciplines those He loves, we will certainly end up seeing trials and difficulties the wrong way. We may see them as God abandoning us rather than refining us. But take note—these are not just different; they are opposites. God’s refining activity shows that He cares, that He is close, and that He is at work—literally the opposite of abandoning us. These difficulties reveal His love and presence.
So, the next time you experience a trial of some kind, I encourage you to see it from God’s perspective. I encourage you, take the words of James to heart:
“Dear brothers and sisters, when troubles of any kind come your way, consider it an opportunity for great joy. For you know that when your faith is tested, your endurance has a chance to grow. So let it grow, for when your endurance is fully developed, you will be perfect and complete, needing nothing.” (James 1:2-4)
For more on the topic of being refined by God’s fire, check out the resource Forged by Fire: “Fire!” Will you rush to it or run from it? Maybe you have the same dilemma getting close to God, the one described in scripture as “the all-consuming fire”? Is he friend or foe? Would you run to him or from him? You may wonder like many, “Can I really trust God with my heart?” After all, no one wants to get burned by love.
But what if God really is trustworthy? What if, up close to the fire of his love, he warms your heart and shapes your life for the wonder and purpose always meant for you? What if your intimacy with him actually becomes your greatest gift to the world? Isn’t that a fire worth running to and a forge worth entering? Best of all – get this: God warmly invites you, “Come!”
