{"id":32213,"date":"2021-05-28T03:30:17","date_gmt":"2021-05-28T10:30:17","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.lccredding.org\/church\/?p=32213"},"modified":"2021-05-26T08:30:46","modified_gmt":"2021-05-26T15:30:46","slug":"may-28-2021","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.lccredding.org\/church\/2021\/05\/28\/may-28-2021\/","title":{"rendered":"May 28, 2021"},"content":{"rendered":"
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“The genuineness of your faith…though it is tested by fire, may be found to praise, honor, and glory at the revelation of Jesus Christ.”<\/em>\u00a01 Peter 1:7<\/p>\n

The Fire<\/strong><\/h2>\n

One day last week I was having a very challenging day\u2014on just about every level.\u00a0I was feeling quite overwhelmed.\u00a0I took time to sit and cry out to the Lord.\u00a0I cast my burdens on Him.\u00a0I thanked Him for His goodness to me on this long unexpected journey. I claimed promises in the Word. I spoke out my trust that His grace is sufficient.\u00a0And I told Him I couldn’t make it without Him.<\/p>\n

As I prayed, I could almost physically feel the Lord lifting the heavy burdens from my heart.\u00a0The weight had been so heavy!\u00a0But God was lifting it from my heart, my mind, my emotions, and my body.\u00a0By the time I went to bed that evening, my spirit was light!\u00a0He is truly our burden-bearer when we call out to Him.<\/p>\n

I wanted to share this testimony to His goodness and faithfulness as an encouragement. I truly believe that when we trust Him, and when we choose to rejoice in hard times, a miracle happens.\u00a0Our trust and hope lift us above our circumstances.\u00a0It releases renewed hope, and joy\u2014even though things might still be difficult.\u00a0Only God can do that!<\/p>\n

Sometimes when we’re in a difficult season, we may wonder why God isn’t doing something. Why isn’t He answering our prayers?\u00a0A Bible teacher named Ronald Dunn said, “God isn’t an arsonist.\u00a0He’s a refiner.”<\/p>\n

We may feel the heat, but we won’t be burned up!\u00a0The testing of our faith\u2014the trials and fires we walk through\u2014only “refine” us.\u00a0God walks right beside us as He works in our lives to refine us and make us more like Him.<\/p>\n

Father, we can\u2019t make it alone. We know the fires are for refining, not for destroying. Walk beside us, Lord. Remind us You are with us. Amen.<\/em><\/p>\n<\/div>

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