James 1: 2-4 Consider it a sheer gift, friends, when tests and challenges come at you from all sides. You know that under pressure, your faith-life is forced into the open and shows its true colors. So don’t try to get out of anything prematurely. Let it do its work so you become mature and well-developed, not deficient in any way.

Under fire, faith is refined.  Pressure from the crucible of our challenging circumstances forces faith out of its comfortable container. Faith proves itself real in trials.  God fans the flames of life as we hold steadfast in faith. We can be confident God gifts us with active, alive, mature faith in testing times.  He is developing our true faith in Him,  so we are not depending on ourselves and not deficient in our belief in His power, hope and love.  Let God refine the faith in your heart by the fire of your life circumstances. 

Photo: Blanton Museum, Austin, TX