Gaining Christ Through the Refining Journey

The Word of God can bring fear when it convicts us through His Spirit, leading us to repentance and restoration. But fear can also make us defensive and lead us toward self-righteousness.

Paul says, “Rejoice in the Lord always” (Phil. 4:4). He counted everything as rubbish that he might gain Christ, be found in Him, know Him, the power of His resurrection, and the fellowship of His sufferings (Phil. 3:8–10). Likewise, we glory in tribulations, knowing that tribulation produces perseverance, character, and hope (Rom. 5:3–5).

God freely gave Adam and Eve freedom, but through disobedience they lost what they did not understand or value. Now God freely gives us the gift of salvation, yet we are called to “work out your own salvation” through submission to Him (Phil. 2:12).

There is a divine mystery in someone coming to accept Jesus as Christ. What appears as foolishness to human reasoning—that salvation is received through faith in Christ rather than earned through our own works—is overturned by this divine mystery. His love covers us so that we do not fall back but are strengthened from glory to glory as we journey through tribulations with Him. He promised never to leave nor forsake us (Heb. 13:5).

God uses tribulation to take the self out of us. Nothing has power over our lives unless God permits it, as we see in Job. As His words are refined like silver seven times (Ps. 12:6), He takes us through a refining journey as we are transformed. Through it, we learn who we are: we are His sons, and He is our Father. This Father-son relationship is not merely emotional like an earthly relationship; it is spiritual.

Joseph walked such a journey until God elevated him in Egypt. He was betrayed, falsely accused, and forgotten by those from whom he expected favor, yet his faith remained in God. He fled from Potiphar’s wife because he feared God (Gen. 39:9–12). When the cupbearer and baker were troubled by their dreams, Joseph confidently declared, “Do not interpretations belong to God?” (Gen. 40:8).

Blessed is the one who is not offended at the Lord because of tribulation, nor complains like the Israelites, but patiently endures knowing that the Lord is with him. His thoughts are higher than our thoughts, and His ways higher than our ways (Isa. 55:8–9).