Dear Friends, don’t be surprised when the fiery ordeal comes among you to test you as if something unusual were happening to you.  Instead, rejoice as you share in the sufferings of the Messiah, so that you may also rejoice with great joy at the revelation of His glory.  If you are ridiculed for the name of Christ, you are blessed, because the Spirit of glory and of God rests on you.  1 Peter 4:12-14  HCSB

The other day I talked about those big red flags that God sends us to let us know when something is not quite right.  If we are paying close attention, these flags warn us of impending danger ahead.  I recently experienced a fiery ordeal that I never saw coming.  I wasn’t only surprised, I was floored.  It was one of those jaw dropping, knock me over with a feather, kind of things.

I have learned something in the past few years.  When I am in close relationship with my Lord and Savior, this makes for a much quicker recovery. Oh, I had my angry moment, followed by shaking my head in disbelief, followed by a few tears, but first and foremost my concern was for the person that betrayed me.  You see, I had seen a couple of red flags pop up.  I had even confronted this person out of concern for them.  Now, once I collected my thoughts, I was able to confront this person in love.  I was able to let them know that I was not angry with them.  I was able to let them know that I was concerned for their well being.  Now, of course, my trust for them was not there, but my genuine compassion and concern were.  The fact that I could no longer trust them was painful, but I knew God had it.  God kept me from being bitter.  He kept me from wallowing in self pity.

A relative asked me a few days later how I found it so easy to be kind to this person.  My response was simple, “A whole lot of Jesus”.  I was prayed up, I was in Bible study, I was surrounded by a family of believers.  Though this fiery ordeal may have caught me by surprise, I was able to make a quick recovery.  It might have startled me and caused me to stumble, but it didn’t knock me down. I knew that God was supporting me.  I knew that the lies that the devil were telling me, were lies meant to distract me from doing good.  This was simply a distraction technique.

Our scripture passage today tells us that we are not to be surprised when these fiery ordeals come our way.  But let’s face it, sometimes the devil throws something at us that we never saw coming.  So be prepared.  2 Timothy 3:12 tells us that all who desire to live a godly life in Christ Jesus will be persecuted. John 15:18 tells us that if the world hates us to know that it hated Jesus before it hated us.  If you are not in the midst of a fiery ordeal, know that one is headed your way.  I have often heard it said that if we haven’t just come out of a test, or are in a test, then there is a test coming our way. When handled properly, we give God the glory.  We can actually rejoice knowing that this happened for a reason.  This can work for our good and His glory (Romans 8:28-30).

I’m not saying that we should walk around on pins and needles waiting for the shoe to drop.  Actually, it’s just the opposite.  I am saying that we should walk boldly in faith.  For we know that whatever the devil throws our way will not be too big for the God we serve to handle.  We know that we are never alone.

Know that just like Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego (Daniel, chapter 3) that when we walk through the fire God is right there with us.  He will bring us through unharmed without even the smell of smoke on us.  So don’t let the fiery ordeal take you by surprise.  If you are in close relationship with God, know that He’s got this.  Know that He will protect you and strengthen you.

Now, if you are not in a close relationship with God, then you will face these fiery ordeals on your own.  If this is the case, my heart goes out to you.  But I beg of you to draw near to God.  Trust in Him and live life as He is calling you to live.  Psalm 91:1 tells us that if we choose to live under the protection of the Most High that we will dwell in the shadow of the Almighty.  Psalm 91:7 tells us that though a thousand fall at our side and ten thousand at our right hand, the pestilence will never reach us.

Right now, today, you can make a choice.  You can be overcome by the fiery ordeals or you can stand strong being supported by God.  Isaiah 41:10 tells us that we should not fear, for He is with us and that we should not be dismayed for He is our God.  He promises to strengthen us, help us and uphold us with His righteous right hand.  Choose wisely, my friend.

Have a great day!