REFINED FOR A PURPOSE: The Five Phases God Uses to Fulfill His Will in Our Lives
We Are Refined for a Purpose: The Five Phases God Uses to Fulfill His Will in Our Lives Throughout Scripture, God reveals a consistent pattern in how He refines His people—shaping them through seasons of challenge, testing, and transformation to fulfill His divine purposes. Like gold purified by fire, God’s chosen are made radiant through trial. The Bible is rich with imagery of refining, as in “He will sit as a refiner and purifier of silver; he will purify the Levites and refine them like gold and silver” (Malachi 3:3, NIV). From Abraham to Paul, the journey to God’s calling often passes through five distinct phases. 1. From Comfort to Calling In “The Lord had said to Abram, ‘Go from your country, your people and your father’s household to the land I will show you. I will make you into a great nation, and I will bless you; I will make your name great, and you will be a blessing’” (Genesis 12:1–2, NIV), God calls Abram away from security and familiarity into an unknown future. This fi...