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The Refiner's Fire

Isaiah 49:13 Shout for joy, O heavens; rejoice, O earth; burst into song, O mountains! For the Lord comforts his people and he will have compassion on his afflicted ones.

It amazes me how many times comfort is spoken of in the Bible.  This just tells me that none of us are immune from suffering.  What we allow God to do with that suffering is a different story.  Our own perception of needing comfort and compassion from God can cause problems with our acceptance of experiencing the Refiner's fire.  We must not see suffering as weakness, but rather as a way for God to show His power, grace and glory to those around us. When we surrender our suffering to Him, we will experience the fullness of the Refiner's fire, Jesus working in, around, and through us simultaneously.

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