The Refinement Process: How God Tests and Grows Us
In this blog, we explore the transformative journey of spiritual growth through God’s refinement process. How do we embrace discipline, seek righteousness, and cultivate a deeper relationship with God? We define the biblical perspective of tests, temptations, and what are God's redemptive purpose in challenges.
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Whoever loves discipline loves knowledge, but whoever hates correction is stupid.
Our Shame Cycles
We’re never more aware of our brokenness than sitting in the aftermath of our failures. These moments feel like a swarm of the bleakest and darkest realities, where there is no hope, and God is surely absent. Memories of mountaintop moments scramble through our conscious, and we long for a chance to step back into those experiences, if nothing else, but to have a brief reprieve from our self-inflicted flagellation.
As we pick up the pieces of our mistakes, defeats, and disappointments, we promise to try harder next time. We might break our hands as we white-knuckle through another compromising situation, but our determination to stay the course rides high. Like Adam and Eve, upon realizing their nakedness, our shame, rather than our worship, drives our course correction. Shame, however, doesn’t lead to faith but performance. The performance of religion only has the power to reset our shame cycle. This is a lesson the Judges know all too well.
We hope this blog prepares you for your next trial and encourages you to embrace God’s discipline.
Does God Test Us?
To better understand why God’s discipline matters, we must first ask: Does God test us?
For many years, I didn’t believe God tested His people. It seemed needlessly cruel and out of character for a loving God to put believers through the wringer. However, my misunderstanding stemmed from confusion about the difference between a temptation and a test.
“Let no one say when he is tempted, ‘I am being tempted by God,’ for God cannot be tempted with evil, and He Himself tempts no one. But each person is tempted when he is lured and enticed by his own desire. Then desire when it has conceived gives birth to sin, and sin when it is fully grown brings forth death.” James 1:13–15
God won’t tempt you, and we’re even told that because He is holy, He can’t do so. However, what we do see in Scripture is God repeatedly tests some of the Bible’s most notable characters (Abraham, Joseph, Job, Daniel, Jesus, Apostle Paul). From their stories, we can draw our greatest encouragement.
So, how do we know the difference if God won’t tempt you but will test you?
What is a Test?
Testing in the Bible is a process or circumstance in which individuals are subject to challenges, difficulties, or temptations that assess and refine their faith, character, and obedience to God. It is a means by which God can strengthen and purify the hearts of His people.
Proverbs 17 says, “Fire tests the purity of silver and gold, but the Lord tests the heart.” Every test is flawlessly designed to give us an opportunity that can be accomplished to demonstrate our gratitude, love, trust, and obedience.
What is Temptation?
But with every test, there is room for disobedience. As we said, God can’t tempt you, but amid a test, the Enemy will enter with temptation.
In the biblical perspective, temptation is the enticement or allure towards sinful behavior or actions that go against God’s will and moral standards. It often involves a struggle between one’s desires, inclinations, and commitment to follow God’s commandments. Temptation can come in various forms, such as lust, greed, pride, or any other temptation that leads individuals away from righteous living and a holy life.
Our cultural perception of Satan is often the cartoonish mustachioed figure with horns, a barbed tail, and a pitchfork that orchestrates dramatic chaos. But in reality, he’s much more subtle and appealing, thus making him more dangerous in his deceptions. He’s likelier to sow tiny seeds of unbelief (little white lies) that offer something attractive and pleasing. This means we won’t hear the full lion’s roar (1 Peter 5:8) until lured into the den.
Temptation was one of the first recorded human experiences we see in the Bible. Adam and Eve lived in the physical embodiment of God’s flourishing, yet overwhelmed by their desires, they gave it all away. The Enemy didn’t tempt them by encouraging them to fashion weapons and charge God’s throne. No, he just said, “What’s the harm in eating the fruit from that tree?”
Sin is doing anything contrary to God’s will or opposing God’s character. Sin leads to brokenness and brokenness to death.
Before we go any further, it’s imperative to establish that being tempted is not a sin. Before Christ began His ministry, He spent 40 days in the wilderness, where He endured multiple temptations from Satan. Our hope is identified in Hebrews 2, which tells us that because Jesus has suffered when tempted, He can help those being tempted.
What is God’s Redemptive Purpose in Testing?
“My son, do not despise the Lord’s discipline or be weary of his reproof, for the Lord reproves him whom He loves, as a father the son in whom he delights.” Proverbs 3:11-12
The idea of testing is scary. From medical tests to finals, our lives are built on the notion that tests define our lives, and frankly, in most cases, they do.
This is compounded when we add a spiritual element, where, like Job, our relationships, stability, and well-being can feel like they’re crumbling. However, testing reveals our true affections. When our stability is tested, our reliance on God has the opportunity to step to the forefront.
God’s intention behind these tests is not to cause harm but to help purify and strengthen our character, offering solace during challenging times. It’s important to remember that these tests are not arbitrary hurdles meant to disrupt our journey. Instead, they are meticulously crafted aspects of God’s grand design, aiming to guide us closer to embodying Christ’s virtues.
With this in mind, let’s delve into the various reasons behind God’s tests, approaching them with a heart open to learning and growth.
Understanding God’s Purpose
Embracing faith stands as a vital part of our journey through transformation. James 1:2-4 encourages us to find strength and resilience in moments of trial, understanding that these challenges contribute to our personal growth and perseverance. While it’s completely natural that these times may not always bring immediate joy, please remember that you are not alone. God’s unwavering support surrounds you, and He has thoughtfully laid out a path to guide you through. His view of your suffering is larger, grander, and more complete than we will ever know in this life.
Growing in Faith
One of the most crucial aspects of the transformation process is our faith. James 1:2-4 also reminds us to “consider it pure joy” when we face trials because they produce perseverance and maturity. Although it likely won’t feel like pure joy, know that God is with you, and He has paved a way for you.
Seeking Righteousness
Navigating life’s challenges calls for a deep and sincere engagement with God’s righteousness. Psalm 23:3 tells us that God is our steadfast guide along paths of righteousness, all for the glory of His name. Amid our trials, embracing His Word becomes our source of strength, illuminating our way and guiding us with kindness and wisdom through any darkness we may face.
How Do We Find God’s Righteousness Amid Trials?
“For they disciplined us for a short time as it seemed best to them, but He disciplines us for our good, that we may share His holiness. For the moment, all discipline seems painful rather than pleasant, but later, it yields the peaceful fruit of righteousness to those who have been trained by it.” Hebrews 12:10-11
Let’s state the obvious: Discipline isn’t fun.
As a child, we all pushed against acceptable behavior and were punished to varying degrees. However, how many of us learned to be kinder, gentler people because we were given a time-out for pushing our sibling or saying something mean to a friend?
In Storm Tossed Family, Russell Moore promotes the idea that, as a society, we see a disciplined person as someone of high character. We praise their efforts and are envious of their commitments. When we think about the best athletes or friends who’ve accomplished significant goals, we always describe them as disciplined. We use that word as a compliment.
The idea of “loving discipline” may seem counterintuitive, but without discipline, there is no life in God. When we believe and belong to God, obedience becomes our baseline. We will lovingly submit to God’s ways in worship and adoration.
Scripture details His commands and is a manual for Godly living. We can focus on the “Thou shalt nots” and toy with legalism, but when we review the Gospels, we see that Christ exemplified a flourishing life that flows from abiding in God and His word.
While God’s discipline is a time-out to pause on His righteousness, accepting His loving discipline can be difficult, so how do we pursue God’s righteousness amid trials?
Accepting Forgiveness
To varying degrees, we’ve all been locked into a shame cycle because of our sins. However, because Jesus not only had victory in His trials, when we are in Him, we also share in His victory. Romans 8:1 reminds us that there is no condemnation for those who are in Christ. Human nature is innately sinful, but when we step into the transformative light of Christ, those sins are forgiven. As His child, it’s in the darkest moments when Christ draws closest to us.
Take some pressure off yourself. No one will pass all of God’s tests. When temptation overtakes us, confess to God and accept His forgiveness. He still loves and admonishes you. There is no sin He won’t forgive, and His goal is to fill you with more of His character.
Perseverance & Trust in God’s Sovereignty
Seeking God’s righteousness means recognizing His sovereignty over all things, including our trials and temptations. God will give us more than we can handle (or else we’d not need an almighty Savior!), and we must trust He remains in control, even when everything is overwhelming. Proverbs 3:5-6 instructs us to “Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding.” Faith reminds us that God is in control, and nothing happens without His permission or purpose.
The Path to Righteousness
The second part of Proverbs 12:1, “but whoever hates correction is stupid,” emphasizes the folly of resisting discipline and correction. When we stubbornly reject the refining process that God offers, we hinder our growth toward His righteousness.
Righteousness, in the biblical context, is not merely about moral uprightness but also about aligning our lives with His divine purposes. Pursuing righteousness is a lifelong journey, and discipline is an essential companion on that path.
Embracing Discipline as a Sign of Love
Pastor and author Sam Allberry said, “Progress in the Christian life is not needing Christ less, but needing Him more.”
To love discipline, in the context of Proverbs 12:1, is to embrace the guidance and correction that come from God. Psalms 1 tells us to “delight in the law.” It’s hard to imagine being cheerful about being required to wear a seatbelt. However, to delight in God’s law signifies a heart open to learning and growing in the knowledge of God’s ways.
The Beauty of Spiritual Growth
“His master said to him, ‘Well done, good and faithful servant. You have been faithful over a little; I will set you over much. Enter into the joy of your master.’” Matthew 25:23
Your failure is not the end. God is still with you. If you’ve fallen, pick yourself up, confess, and ask God to guide your path. God’s refinement process isn’t intended to break us but to shape us into vessels of His righteousness. Every day is a new opportunity to step into His righteousness.
The lessons we learn in the crucible of adversity often define the remarkable beauty of growth that emerges from the fires. As we accept God’s forgiveness and develop our faith, we begin to see the intricate threads of God’s testing in our lives. However, don’t let that discourage or frighten you, though, because it’s through His refinement that we’re molded into vessels that reflect His likeness.
“Wisdom is good with an inheritance, an advantage to those who see the sun. For the protection of wisdom is like the protection of money, and the advantage of knowledge is that wisdom preserves the life of him who has it.” Ecclesiastes 7:11-12
God’s testing is an invitation to growth, transformation, and a deeper, more intimate relationship with Him. In this pursuit, our faith deepens, our character matures, and we become more like Christ. The trials that once seemed like stumbling blocks can become stepping stones in our spiritual journey.
TL;DR
This blog delves into the refinement process of spiritual growth, distinguishing between tests and temptations and highlighting the importance of embracing God's discipline.
Test: the process where we are subject to challenges, difficulties, or temptations that refine our faith and character.
Temptation: the enticement or allure towards sinful behavior or actions that go against God’s will and moral standards.
God’s redemptive purposes in testing include:
Understanding God’s commitment to our growth and perserverance.
Development of our faith.
A means to seeking HIs righteousness.
We can find God’s righteousness in trials by:
Accepting forgiveness
Perserverance and trust in His sovereignty
Pursuing the path of righteousness
Embracing discipline as a sign of love
The lessons we learn in the crucible of adversity often define the remarkable beauty of growth that emerges from the fires. As we accept God’s forgiveness and develop our faith, we begin to see the intricate threads of God’s testing in our lives.