• Email
• Share
• Print

Scripture Reading: Isaiah 48:10

It seems that lately, I have watched two of my employees suffer in the furnace of affliction. My son Labron, who sings lead and handles all of our media resources, has been diagnosed with an incurable blood disease that has attacked his liver. This disease causes him severe pain, loss of sleep and he also suffers from weakness as well as frustration.

The second employee, who is my personal assistant, is daily in the furnace of affliction with another incurable disease known as interstitial cystitis. This is a disease of the inside of the bladder that causes spasms and severe nerve wracking pain. It hurts my heart for both of them that I can’t fix them or take their pain. They come to the ministry office daily with a countenance of pain on their faces and in their body language. However, they know that they have been chosen to serve God in their furnace of affliction.

All of us have a furnace of affliction. Paul would refer to it as a thorn that buffets him. I looked up the word “furnace” in the original Hebrew. It means a boiling pot or location of intense refining. I also looked up the word “affliction.” It means to express levels of suffering to the point of depression and weakness. This should describe all of us somewhere in our lives. What is your furnace of affliction? How are you responding? Remember, God said in our Scripture text that you...”have been chosen” for this furnace and you will come forth as gold. Isaiah 49:11 also tells us why we go through the furnace of affliction. He says, “For mine own sake, even for mine own sake, will I do it: for how should my name be polluted? And I will not give my glory to another.”

In the furnace of affliction, you will feel sick, depressed, weak and frustrated. Just remember, God has chosen you to carry your affliction for His own sake. This fact doesn’t make your furnace any calmer or mentally stronger, but it will bring Him honor and glory.

My prayers for Labron and Angie are without ceasing. Their endurance is amazing. They, too, like Paul know that God’s grace is sufficient. It doesn’t make it any easier for me as I watch them suffer daily, but I do find peace in the fact that God has chosen them in their afflictions to give Him glory. They are both doing that by getting up daily and being about the Father’s business. Their smiles may have diminished and their joy may be distressed, but their hearts are still set on the tasks set before them.

From my heart to yours, I challenge you to get up in the midst of your furnace of affliction and glorify God, for His grace is sufficient. He has chosen you for this furnace. That fact within itself should be an honor. God could’ve chosen someone else, but He saw your strength and your potential. He is the HEALER and DELIVERER, and He is refining you for His sake.

I Just Love Jesus,

Dr. Brenda J. Robinson

• 4 Comments
• Tags: depression, perseverance, weakness

• Posted by: Dr. Brenda Robinson