“Don’t run from tests and hardships, brothers and sisters. As difficult as they are, you will ultimately find joy in them; if you embrace them, your faith will blossom under pressure and teach you true patience as you endure. And true patience brought on by endurance will equip you to complete the long journey and cross the finish line—mature, complete, and wanting nothing.” (James 1:2-4 VOICE)
Tempering is a process of refinement by which things are brought to their proper, suitable, or desired state. Tempered steel is heated and cooled to impart strength. Tempered glass is toughened by producing sudden internal stresses. Chocolate is tempered by heating and cooling at precise temperatures which gives it a smooth and glossy finish. Tempering spices in hot oil releases their flavors.
“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.” (Romans 5:3-4 MSG)
Every trial can be a tempering process in our lives. Faith blossoms under pressure. When molded in fire, we develop true patience, strength, and endurance. Our essence is released. We are brought to our proper, suitable, and desired state of being--mature, complete, and wanting nothing. Thus, we continue to praise God even when we’re surrounded by troubles. We patiently submit to the refinement process, knowing that it forges the tempered steel of virtue, keeping us alert for whatever God will do next.
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