The Refiner's Fire EP116

About this episode

The episode discusses how troubles can lead to spiritual growth and the importance of God's presence in our struggles.

From the transcript... I’m going to read this out of The Message . Romans 5—just before verses 8, 9, 10, because it sets the tone so beautifully: “There’s more to come: We continue to shout our praise even when we’re hemmed in with troubles, because we know how troubles can develop passionate patience in us, and how that patience in turn forges the tempered steel of virtue, keeping us alert for whatever God will do next. In alert expectancy such as this, we’re never left feeling shortchanged—quite the contrary. We can’t round up enough containers to hold everything God generously pours into our lives through the Holy Spirit. Christ arrives right on time to make this happen. He didn’t and doesn’t wait for us to get ready. He presented himself for the sacrifice of death when we were far too weak and rebellious to do anything to get ourselves ready.” That last line just lands, doesn’t it? He didn’t wait. Not for improvement. Not for readiness. Not for some turning point where we finally got our act together. He stepped in right at the point of our weakness—right in the middle of it, not on the other side of it. And that reframes everything. Because now even the “troubles” Paul talks…

People in this episode

Hosts: James, Larry

Topics covered

• faith
• trials
• spiritual growth
• God's presence
• patience
• virtue

Keywords

• troubles
• patience
• God
• spirituality
• faith
• virtue
• Holy Spirit

Mentioned in this episode

Books & works: The Message, Romans

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