Forging Faith: Tested and True

Faith isn’t forged in comfort—it’s proven in the fire. 

Pastor, you’ve been there. The sleepless nights, the unanswered prayers, the moments when you wonder if anything you’re doing is making a difference. You pour your heart into the pulpit, you counsel the weary, you shepherd the flock—but the weight of ministry can be crushing.

If anyone understood this tension, it was the Apostle Peter. Writing to a scattered, suffering church, he reminded them of a hard truth: Faith isn’t forged in comfort—it’s proven in the fire. 

“You rejoice in this, even though now for a short time, if necessary, you suffer grief in various trials so that the proven character of your faith—more valuable than gold which, though perishable, is refined by fire—may result in praise, glory, and honor at the revelation of Jesus Christ.” —1 Peter 1:6-7 (CSB)

Peter doesn’t sugarcoat it—trials are unavoidable. But he also doesn’t frame them as pointless suffering. No, trials refine us. Just as fire purifies gold, the fire of ministry refines our faith, burning away self-reliance, pride, and misplaced security.

The Fire That Reveals 

You’ve likely encountered well-meaning Christian platitudes:

 • “God won’t give you more than you can handle.”

 • “Just pray about it.”

 • “Everything happens for a reason.”

But when you’re walking through the fire, those statements often feel hollow, right? Ministry is filled with moments that are more than we can handle: moments when we need more than a quick prayer—we need an anchor. And Peter tells us where to find it: in a faith that has been tested and proven.

God promises that we will find hope, rest, and fulfillment in that faith relationship with Him.

So here’s the challenge, Pastor:

 • Don’t resist the refining fire. God hasn't forgotten you—He’s purifying you.

 • Don’t let discouragement tell you that trials mean failure. Your faith is being made stronger.

 • Don’t walk through the fire alone. Lean into trusted friendships, wise counsel, and—above all—Christ.

Your ministry isn’t measured by its ease, but by its endurance. And endurance is forged in the fire.

Find hope in that today, Pastor.