On the night of August 7, 2025, I met with a group of saints to pray.  One-by-one, members took turns talking about various trials they, or someone they knew, were having.  As each person spoke of their situations and need for prayer, I kept hearing the Lord say:

“Fires of affliction.”

As I was hearing this, the Lord was also impressing upon me the importance of the fires by bringing various scriptures to mind. 

After this was spoken several times, He said:

“My people are going through the fires of affliction.”

Might any of you be in those fires right now?  I believe all can relate to going through fires of affliction – whatever that looks like in your life in any given season.  A fire of affliction may come in the form of persecution, betrayal, financial distress, health problems, you name it.  What was impressed upon me that night was how the “church” in general seems to be totally distracted by what is going on around them and in their personal lives.  Jesus cautioned His followers not to be concerned with these things.

“Take no anxious thought for your life, what you shall eat, or what you shall drink; nor yet for your body, what you shall put on.  Is not the life more that meat, and the body than clothing…for your heavenly Father knows that you have need of all these things” (Matthew 6:31-32).

But why are these “fires of affliction” necessary? What is taking place during such fires?  Of course, the first verse I pulled up after that prayer meeting was Isaiah 48:10, which says,

“Behold, I have refined you, but not as silver; I have tested/chosen you in the furnace of affliction.”

The Hebrew word translated “tested” or “chosen” (depending upon your translation) is “becharticha,” and has a dual meaning – tested and chosen. 

This and many other verses show it to be a process.  The furnace of affliction is where something takes place.  The Lord told me early one morning a couple years ago,

“You will be Tried, Tested, and Proven.”

“Tried” as in a court case.  Think about it.  That is legal terminology and is exactly what is going on – a court case.  Satan the devil is the accuser of the brethren.  The trial is in process.

What happens during a Trial? 

Evidence is presented and examined.  Each side is given opportunity to present their case.  This is going on right now.  Things that do not belong are tossed out of court.

The final part of a trial is the Proven stage.  The judge decides which case was proven and renders His final judgment (see Daniel 7:26)

Saints, most reading this are still in the testing phase – yet to be proven. 

But the fires of affliction have an amazing purpose, including:

Correction: 

 “As many as I love, I rebuke and chasten, be zealous therefore and repent” (Revelation 3:19).

Purification: 

Removing what does not belong:  Malachi 3:2-3 talks about Him being like a refiner’s fire and fuller’s soap.  He will sit as a refiner and purifier of silver and purge them as gold and silver…

As Proving Ground:

“But He knows the way that I take:  when He has tried me, I shall come forth as gold” (Job 23:10).   God used Job’s case as a tried, tested, and proving ground before He promoted Job. 

Think of Daniel’s fire of affliction when he was cast into the lion’s den.  God was glorified by Daniel standing on the word of God.  Daniel was immediately promoted after this. 

Shadrach, Meshack and Abednego were literally cast into their fire of affliction in a burning furnace.  They too glorified God as they proved their faithfulness to Him, refusing to bow to any other “god.” 

“Now if anyone builds on this foundation with gold, silver, precious stones, wood, hay, straw, each one’s work will become clear; for the Day will declare it, because it will be revealed by fire; and the fire will test each one’s work, of what sort it is” (1 Corinthians 3:12-13).

And finally, Zechariah 13: talking about our day and a fire of cleansing.  In verse 9 it says, “And I will bring the third part through the fire, and will refine them as silver is refined, and will try them as gold is tried:  they shall call on my name and I will hear them.  I will say, It is my people: and they will say, “The LORD is my God.”

The Word of God is clear; the fires of affliction are multi purposed:  God uses them for correction; the eyes of His people are refocused upon the One who can save; and that which does not belong is consumed by the fire.

The Lord told me a few years ago, while going through an especially fiery trial,

“Let the Fire Consume You.”

He burns away what does not belong to cleanse and purify His people.  He proves us and He chooses us through such fires.  He says, “I have chosen you in the furnace of affliction.” 

What Should Be Our Stance?

Peter said, “Beloved, do not think if strange concerning the fiery trial which is to try you, as though some strange thing happened to you, but rejoice ………for the time has come that judgment must begin at the house of God…” (1Peter 4:12-17).

Okay, we know the fires of affliction are ultimately for our good.  So, what should be our stance while going through such fires?

“My brethren, count it all joy when you fall into different trials; knowing this, that the trying of your faith works patience.  But let patience have her perfect work, that you may be perfect and entire, wanting nothing” (James 1:2-4).

“Trust in the LORD with all your heart, and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge Him, and He will direct your paths” (Proverbs 3:5-6).

We do not have to understand or have all the answers as to why we are going through a trial.  Our job is to keep our eyes straight ahead on our LORD, to trust Him to see us through, knowing He is perfecting all that which concerns us (Philippians 1:6).

The Lord wants His people to be encouraged in this season of encroaching darkness.  He wants us to trust Him with all our hearts – no matter the storm swirling around us, and to remember He will never leave us nor forsake us. 

Please take all presented here before the Lord for more understanding and revelation. 

God bless you!