At the end of each “page” there is an Assignment, a spiritual challenge. It is my prayer that these challenges will take you to a deeper place in your relationship with the Triune God. Remember, God has a plan and a purpose for every bit of suffering that He “grants” we walk through. It is our job to not waste this “momentary” suffering.
This page has all of them in order.
Assignment 1
FIRST ASSIGNMENT – Forward to Refiner’s Fire
(Be sure to read Forward to Refiner’s Fire before Assignment 1)
If you have chosen to take this walk with me, your first assignment is to pray and ask Father, Son and Holy Spirit to guide you. As you listen to the song below let the Lord speak to you of the refining He is doing in your life.
The song Refiner’s Fire drew me to focus on Jesus and KNOW He had a plan and a purpose for every bit of pain He walked me through. The Triune God is still refining me, in the midst of pain showing me things about myself that are painful, taking me deeper in my walk with Him.
I find myself falling more and more in love with Almighty God. May Refiner’s Fire be a song of challenge for you to focus on Jesus and KNOW He has a perfect plan for you – even if it doesn’t feel like it today.
Refiner’s Fire by Steve Greene
If you are a stranger and you want to know more about who I am, go to “Meet Wanda” This Sojourner has had quite a windy, twisting, up and down walk.
Assignment 2
No! This Can’t be Happening To Me! This is Crazy!
My CHALLENGE to you —
Let’s grab a cup of coffee … imagine you and I are sitting together chatting.
Is the Triune God in His all-loving, all-powerful, all-knowing way walking you through a time of suffering or has it been a life of suffering?
OR were you blessed with little suffering in life so far? Ask Him what His purpose is for bringing you to this Blog. Does He have a ministry for you with someone who is suffering? Or does He want you to willingly walk into suffering to bring Him glory.
John Piper’s sermon has helped me to understand the importance of suffering in my walk with the Triune God. Joy in Risk and Suffering
Listen, take notes and pray over John’s message in the coming week. Don’t try and do it all in one sitting. Listen to a little bit each day and let it soak in.
After you have listened to the sermon, I would love to hear your story. Let’s chat via the comment section so others may join us. We can minister to one another as the Triune God guides us to bring glory to Him on this earth.
If you have something that can’t be shared openly write me at refinersfire43@gmail.com
Assignment 3
My CHALLENGE to you —
Let’s grab a cup of coffee … imagine you and I are sitting together chatting.
Last week listening to John Piper’s Joy in Risk and Suffering ,what did you think of the opening in regard to Philippians 1 – gain in death? I will have a story to share with you in the weeks to come of when Jesus gave me a choice.
When do you feel the loneliest?
In the midst of that loneliness, where do you go? How do you calm the feeling of loneliness?
In the midst of that loneliness, do you feel the presence of the Triune God?
If you don’t already do the following, talk to your Father continually; be specific. Remember He knows when a hair falls from your head – He loves you that much.
If you haven’t finished listening to John Piper’s Joy in Risk and Suffering ,please do so this week.
Also listen to Come a song to meditate on this coming week.
Let’s chat via the comment section so others may join us. We can minister to one another as the Triune God guides us to bring glory to Him on this earth.
If you have something that can’t be shared openly email me at refinersfire43@gmail.com
Assignment 4 
My CHALLENGE to you —
Let’s grab a cup of coffee … imagine you and I are sitting together chatting.
“Abba! Father!” The Spirit himself bears witness with our spirit that we are children of God, and if children, then heirs—heirs of God and fellow heirs with Christ, provided we suffer with him in order that we may also be glorified with him.” (Romans 8:15-18 ESV)
When we walk with the Triune God, we will get scratched up and bruised; sometimes there are broken bones and broken hearts. Remember the list of types of suffering John Piper gives in Joy in Risk and Suffering
Stay focused on Jesus, clinging to Him as He walks you through pain-filled days. KNOW that He has a plan and a purpose for every bit of suffering He walks you through. Understand that IT IS painful – He provides the strength.
Are you in the Refiner’s Fire ? Listen to the song and then read through all of Romans 8. Cling to the truths there.
There is ALWAYS a purpose in the suffering He walks us through.
Let’s chat via the comment section so others may join us. We can minister to one another as the Triune God guides us to bring glory to Him on this earth.
If you have something that can’t be shared openly, write me at refinersfire43@gmail.com
Assignment 5
My CHALLENGE to you —
Grab a cup of coffee and imagine you are sitting with me as we chat right now.
“The LORD your God is in your midst, a mighty one who will save; he will rejoice over you with gladness; he will quiet you by his love; he will exult over you with loud singing. “ (Zephaniah 3:17 ESV)
As the Triune God walks us through difficult, pain filled days (no matter the type of pain – physical, mental, emotional, relational, spiritual) when we stay focused on God, He promises to be present with us. Read through Zephaniah 3 and see God’s promise to those who remained faithful.
Have you had a recent God sighting you would like to share?
Is this something new for you? This week be diligent focusing on God, talking to Him continually – even about the TV show you are watching, asking Him to make you aware of His presence.
Come back and share with us how your week has gone.
Let’s chat via the comment section so others may join us. Your story can minister to others as the Triune God guides you to bring glory to Him on this earth.
If you have something that can’t be shared openly, write me at refinersfire43@gmail.com
Assignment 6
My CHALLENGE to you —
Grab a cup of coffee and imagine you are sitting with me as we chat right now.
Don’t make my mistake!
I truly believed because the Triune God had walked me through so much pain in my younger days that I had paid my “dues.” Pretty stupid huh?
Now realize – through part of my younger suffering days, my husband Joe was on staff with Open Doors with Brother Andrew. I went to China and sat in a family kitchen as the mother told us about her eleven-year-old son having been beaten to death. Why? He refused to renounce Jesus.
I stood in a kitchen in Havana, Cuba listening as a wife/mother sobbed, telling us how the week before she was ready to give up and had cried out to Jesus in desperation – ready to flee from Him.
- Why didn’t I grasp there was no way I could know what God had planned for me?
- Why did I stubbornly think that God would put a limit on the amount of suffering He had for me?
- What about those who are born with a crippling disease, especially those who carry pain with them their whole lives?
- What about those born into poverty and are never shown a way out?
- The list is endless of ways God has granted (Phil. 1:29) individuals to suffer.
What’s the result of my faulty reasoning?
I wasn’t spiritually or emotionally prepared for where God was going to take me, causing me to suffer more because my heart and mind weren’t prepared.
Are you willing to walk wherever God takes you? You can call out as Jesus did, “And he said, “Abba, Father, all things are possible for you. Remove this cup from me. Yet not what I will, but what you will.”(Mark 14:36 ESV)
If that is the walk you want to have with the Triune God, here are some beginning steps:
- tell Him you are willing
- ask Him for desire and strength to do whatever He asks
- He knows your heart – ask Him to prepare your heart and mind for wherever He takes you
- if you haven’t started, begin now talking to Him continually throughout the day about everything
- when in the midst of times that are unbearable, say with love and pleading – Jesus, Jesus, Jesus – over and over and over
- stay focused on the truth that you will one day be at HOME with the Triune God
- no matter what, cling to Jesus!
I SURRENDER This is a song of surrender to our Lord. Close your eyes and let the Lord speak to you as you listen to the words.
“I have a baptism to be baptized with, and how great is my distress until it is accomplished!” (Luke 12:50 ESV) Jesus has experienced distress also. He understands. There is a purpose for the path He has you on.
Let’s “chat” with one another via the comment section so others may join us. We can minister to one another as the Triune God brings glory to Himself on this earth.
If you have something that can’t be shared openly, write me at refinersfire43@gmail.com
Assignment 7
Stripped Emotionally Naked! Then Abandoned!
My CHALLENGE to you —
Let’s grab a cup of coffee … imagine you and I are sitting together chatting.
When I’m in the middle of “terror”, it’s so difficult to reason, to KNOW that God is with me. What helps me the most is to say, “Jesus, Jesus, Jesus” over and over. It doesn’t take a lot of energy and no reasoning is necessary; there is just a comfort in repeating His name.
Jesus always answers in ways I can’t explain. The pain may not lessen, but there seems to be a gentle strength that floods over me, a renewed determination. It takes me to a place I KNOW He is with me – even though my body rages with terror.
If you haven’t started doing so yet, begin looking for God Sightings … each day.
Sit with a cup of coffee or glass of tea, in the presence of The Triune God and let Him speak to you through this song. There’s Something About That Name Gaither Band.
Let’s chat via the comment section so others may join us. We can minister to one another as the Triune God guides us to bring glory to Him on this earth.
If you have something that can’t be shared openly, write me at refinersfire43@gmail.com
Assignment 8
My CHALLENGE to you —
Grab a cup of coffee and imagine you are sitting with me as we chat right now.
Joe was right – I was “lucky,” or more importantly blessed.
God showed how essential it is to put the Triune God first. Today, I grasp with joy the words of the song below! Almighty God loves me enough to take me where it’s best for me, even though it is filled with pain.
When we walk with the Triune God suffering is not bad – it is good. It takes us to places where we are able to sing the song below with deep inner joy. But KNOW! The pain still hurts just as much.
Though You Slay Me Shane & Shane (featuring John Piper)
Assignment 9
My CHALLENGE to you —
Grab a cup of coffee … imagining you and I are chatting.
As I struggle with the path of suffering that God has put me on I am helped when I focus on those who suffer much more than I. Buy or borrow “God’s Smuggler”
I wonder how Christians who live with persecution, for their faith, deal with internal turmoil? I have suffered with internal turmoil for years; but I have NOT had to deal with persecution.
This week, if you don’t already do so, spend time in prayer for Christians living under persecution.
For more information, and to follow what is happening with Christians worldwide, go to the Open Doors website. You may subscribe to their weekly email, stay aware of what Christians experience in other parts of the world.
Assignment 10
My CHALLENGE to you —
Grab a cup of coffee … imagining you and I are chatting.
As I struggle with the path of suffering that God has put me on I am helped when I focus on those who suffer much more than I. Buy or borrow “God’s Smuggler”
I wonder how Christians who live with persecution, for their faith, deal with internal turmoil? I have suffered with internal turmoil for years; but I have NOT had to deal with persecution.
This week, if you don’t already do so, spend time in prayer for Christians living under persecution.
For more information, and to follow what is happening with Christians worldwide, go to the Open Doorswebsite. You may subscribe to their weekly email, stay aware of what Christians experience in other parts of the world.
Assignment 11
Settling Into A Life of Terror
My CHALLENGE to you —
In our Bible study group several years after the above story, we did an in-depth study on the Sovereignty of God. We used Trusting God: Even When Life Hurts in our study. I had always “believed” that the Triune God was sovereign, but I didn’t completely understand what that meant for my faith walk.
If you struggle with understanding what the sovereignty of God means in your faith walk, read Trusting God: Even When Life Hurts, by Jerry Bridges.
It is easier to accept the difficulties of life when I keep my focus on a Sovereign God who knew before He created me that I would face the pain I’m dealing with today.
It’s easy to believe something in my head, but not put that belief into practice in the reality of life. Here are questions to ponder: do I truly believe a truth when I don’t practice it? When I don’t allow God, by my surrender, to use that truth to change me, do I believe it?
When my body is raging and terror envelops me, it is difficult to surrender to the truth I know. The Triune God is Sovereign, He only wants what is best for me. Even though it doesn’t feel like it, in the moment of pain, the pain is for my good, I must surrender.
My cry – “Oh, God, please do not let me waste this pain.”
In those moments, I cry out and beg God, “If you are not going to give me relief, then please give me the desire and strength to continue to hold on to You. Give me the desire and strength to do what You want me to do.”
He amazes me as He provides the desire and strength to cling to Him; the desire and strength to do what He has for me to do in in the midst of terror.
This past week, I awoke with a body raging in so much terror I didn’t think I could get out of bed. Joe had a dentist’s appointment which was critical for his health. It required my driving him 15 miles, on unknown roads, trusting the GPS would get us there. I cried out, “I can’t do this.”
Just then a text message came which awoke me more and I thought, “FACEBOOK.”
I posted a cry for prayer. Suddenly people shared how they were praying. At 1 p.m., when we left the apartment, my arms were heavy as though they had been through a war, but the terror was gone.
In the midst of your pain/suffering: Pray, “God please don’t let me waste this pain. Give me the desire and strength to continue clinging to you; give me the desire and strength to do what You want me to do.”
Please don’t hesitate to reach out to others, to pray for you. Don’t feel comfortable doing this publicly? Ask a few close friends to be your prayer partners. Tell them you will send an email or text message or Facebook message when you need the desire and strength to keep clinging to Jesus; when you need the desire and strength to do what He wants you to do.
Click if you want to meditate on this with a Song to Lighten your suffering
Assignment 12
Blessing In The Midst of Terror
My CHALLENGE to you —
Let’s grab a cup of coffee … imagine you and I are sitting together chatting.
When God gives us a life that doesn’t fit the fairytale dreams of our childhood, we must be intentional as we look for God sightings.
My arms were heavy with terror as I walked into the bedroom, I looked out the window at this scene.
I immediately thought, “My body is dark with terror; yet in the midst of my terror, the light of the Triune God shines!.
He is with me right now. He hears my cry. He gives me the strength to walk through this stress. In my mourning, in my terror, I can dance. He is with me through it all.
(If you haven’t read the “page” A God Sighting, read it now so you have understanding of what a God Sighting is)
We may be surrounded by darkness but God gives us sightings of Himself. His light is in the midst of our darkness.
We must be intentional as we look for His Sightings. For me, it often comes as a wonderful surprise.
Do you have a hard time seeing God sightings each day?
- Don’t give up!
- Cry out to the Triune God – Father, Son and Holy Spirit, asking the Holy Spirit to open your heart and eyes.
- Ask someone you know, who walks with God, to help you recognize His sightings. God may not remove the darkness, the suffering (emotional, physical, relational, mental). If you have surrendered to Him, and He is your Lord and Savior, He will never remove Himself from you. That’s His promise. (Psalm 37:25, Hebrews 13:5, 2 Corinthians 4:9)
I Can Face the Future Because He Lives Gaither Vocal Band
This is an amazing video as it begins at a gathering from years ago with saints who have “crossed the river” and are now home with our Father. It seamlessly changes to a present-day rendition at a concert where thousands are singing with the Vocal Band. It ends with a blending of the two gatherings singing.
Oh, brother and sister in Christ – what we have to look forward to!
Assignment 13
More Blessing In The Midst of Terror
My CHALLENGE to you —
Grab a cup of coffee … imagnine you and I are chatting.
What a blessing it was, being a small part of serving the suffering church, especially while walking through my own trial.
Over the years, I thought about God’s word, “You still have your soul.”
Is anything more important?
Through the years when God has “granted” that I should experience terror or He has taken me to places of relational and physical pain, I remember those who have had it much worse and remained faithful.
I cry out, “Father give me the desire, wisdom and strength to remain faithful during this pain. Father, I would love for this to be removed but not my will, Yours’ be done.”
Jesus, fully human and fully God, suffered more than any other human.
- Hebrews 5:7 is a powerful verse.
“In the days of his flesh, Jesus offered up prayers and supplications, with loud cries and tears, to him who was able to save him from death, and he was heard because of his reverence.”- Read what John Calvin says in his commentary about this verse John Calvin Hebrews 5 … Hebrews 5:7 Jesus is our example to respond to suffering.
- Another resource for Hebrews 5:7 The Greatest Prayer in the World This transcript of John Piper’s sermon gives we, who are walking through any type of suffering, insight in how to pray.
- Pulled from John Piper’s sermon, a quote from Johnathan Edward’s commentary on Hebrews 7:
Jonathan Edwards answers,
This was the greatest act of obedience that Christ was to perform.
He prays for strength and help, that his poor feeble human nature
might be supported, that he might not fail in this great trial, that he
might not sink and be swallowed up, and his strength so overcome
that he should not hold out, and finish the appointed obedience.
He was afraid lest his poor feeble strength should be overcome,
and that he should fail in so great a trial, that he should be
swallowed up by that death that he was to die, and so should
not be saved from death; and therefore he offered up strong
crying and tears unto him that was able to strengthen him,
and support, and save him from death, that the death he
was to suffer might not overcome his love and obedience,
but that he might overcome death, and so be saved from it.
(“Christ’s Agony”)
Find further scripture here Scripture Regarding Suffering
Assignment 14
My CHALLENGE to you —
Grab a cup of coffee … imagine you and I are chatting.
The Triune God had gone to extra lengths to get me into that classroom (God’s Orchestration). Just because He had placed me on a very difficult path, living with internal terror, didn’t mean He wouldn’t use me to His glory.
“I have a baptism to be baptized with,
and how great is my distress until it is accomplished”
Luke 12:50
Jesus walked a difficult path throughout His life as He awaited the horrid death and abandonment by His Father. On the cross, He cried out, “My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?” This is the only time in the Bible that Jesus called the Father “God.” Matthew 27:46
Jesus understands what it means to suffer. Cling to Him is my story of clinging to Jesus through the toughest of times.
Sometimes It Takes a Mountain Gaither Vocal Band
Assignment 15
My CHALLENGE to you —
Grab a cup of coffee … imagine you and I are chatting.
As God calls you to go out to minister to others when you feel so broken, so weak, so lost, don’t let the enemy fool you into thinking you can’t do it.
Heal us, Emmanuel, here we are, We long to feel Thy touch
Deep wounded souls, to Thee we fly, O Savior hear our cry
Our faith is feeble, we confess, We faintly trust Thy word; But will You pity us the less? Be that far from You Lord!
Remember him who once applied, With trembling for relief;
“Lord, I believe,” with tears he cried; “O help my unbelief!”
She, too, who touched you in the press And healing virtue stole, Was answered, “Daughter, go in peace; Thy faith has made thee whole.”
Like her, with hopes and fears we come To touch You if we may;
O send us not despairing home; Send none unhealed away.
A Song for the Weak and Broken sung by Indelible Grace
I urge you! Cry out to the Triune God for the desire, wisdom and strength to walk into the ministry He gives you in the midst of your pain
Assignment 16
The Day Arrived … I KNEW This Was Where God Wanted Me! CUBA!
My CHALLENGE to you —
Grab a cup of coffee … imagine you and I are chatting.
Every Christian experiences doubt. Times when you and I wonder whether we are just fooling ourselves.
If you have never experienced doubts; you are blessed.
Ruth cried to God, “LORD, if You exist, if this isn’t just my imagination send someone to tell me that You exist.” Ruth was answered in a way that was beyond what she expected. Have you cried out to God in this way?
From last week’s song A Song for the Weak and Broken sung by Indelible Grace
Remember him who once applied, With trembling for relief;
“Lord, I believe,” with tears he cried; “O help my unbelief!”
Mark 9:14-29
“I believe; Help my unbelief!”
From ESV Study Bible:
Mark 9:22b–24 “The father merely seeks help through Jesus’ miraculous powers: if you can do anything. Jesus corrects the father’s statement by calling him to put his trust in God. I believe; help my unbelief! The father immediately confesses that he has some faith but also acknowledges his spiritual weakness and appeals to Jesus to create in him a heart that believes more firmly.”
Apart from God, there is no faith. We cannot create faith within us. Faith is a gift from God.
Romans 12:3 “For by the grace given to me I say to everyone among you not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think, but to think with sober judgment, each according to the measure of faith that God has assigned.”
You cannot create your own faith, it has to come from the Triune God. Ask for an extra measure of faith as the father did in Mark 9.
Assignment 17
Today’s Coffee Chat is a unique posting – it is the whole post. Pour yourself a cup of coffee—real or imagined. I wish we could sit face to face as I share what has been happening in the past few weeks. Then you could share with me and together we could laugh and cry.
Go to the actual post – link above. Sample below
And not only the creation, but we ourselves,
who have the first fruits of the Spirit,
groan inwardly as we wait eagerly for adoption as sons,
the redemption of our bodies.
For in this hope we were saved.
Now hope that is seen is not hope. For who hopes for what he sees?
But if we hope for what we do not see, we wait for it with patience. (ESV)
Assignment 18
Home From Cuba … and Life Returns to (Some Kind of) Normal
My CHALLENGE to you —
Grab a cup of coffee … and imagine we are chatting.
As I attempted to live a “normal” life, I had to daily deal with a body that rarely felt “normal.” In the midst of everyday life the stress of a strange body hits me and I have to fight to keep doing “normal” things.
Each day I cry out to God for desire, wisdom and strength. Tonight, I sit in awe that I was able to do what I did last night. Thank you, Jesus, for the strength you gave me. As I talked to people tears were falling down my cheeks (for no reason they knew of). I was embarrassed – but I had the strength to talk.
In the midst of my everyday life, when my body tells me lies, I KNOW all is well with my soul.
Wintley Phipps speaks powerful words to be remembered when in the midst of suffering.
It Is Well With My Soul Wintley Phipps
Whether your pain is emotional, physical, mental or relational, listen as Wintley Phipps sings with assurance. If you have surrendered your life to Jesus, it doesn’t matter what you experience — IT IS WELL WITH YOUR SOUL.
Assignment 19
My CHALLENGE to you —
Grab a cup of coffee … and imagine we are chatting.
When we walk through a painful time, it is easy to convince ourselves we are useless. Times like those easily leave us believing God won’t use us. But God grants us (1 Philippians:29) that we should walk through suffering because He loves us and has a purpose in it.
In the midst of our suffering, staying focused on the Triune God, brings glory to God. He enables the willing sufferer to minister to others.
My mother taught me how to look for opportunities, to serve God wherever He placed me. She also said, “You are never too old to minister.” Victim of a stroke, at eighty-three she couldn’t talk, paralyzed on one side of her body.
Initially, she was discouraged, no longer able to speak. Ironically, trained as a speech therapist, she specialized in working with stroke victims. She knew what to do, but was no longer able to do it. Following several attempts, she was also unable to print or write.
A woman from our home church, who lived in the same nursing home, approached my mom one day saying, “Edith you have always taught how Christians never retire, how there will always be a ministry for us. Today, there is a ministry for you and this is the place for you.” Simple words changed my mother’s attitude;bringing her back to her old self.
We visited her one day (a one-way, six hour drive!) and found her sitting in the hallway next to an Alzheimer’s patient, with her good hand gently laying on the patient’s arm.
She was a real prayer warrior so I’m sure she was praying for those individuals also.
“God never uses a person greatly until He has wounded him deeply.
The privilege He offers you is greater than the price you have to pay.
The privilege is greater than the price.”
—Helen Roseveare
Read here the amazing full story of Helen Roseveare If you are in the midst of suffering, or know someone who is, you will find helpful truth’s in her story. Be sure to read it to the end.
Day by Day sung by the Antrim Mennonite Choir, and written by Karolina W. Sandell-Berg in 1865, after her father fell from a ship and drowned.
Assignment 20
CHINA! God Has A Surprise For Me
My CHALLENGE to you —
Grab a cup of coffee… imagine you and I are chatting.
In front of your unbelieving eyes, what might it be like watching your child being beaten to death?
Your Heavenly Father understands. He watched His only Son be crucified. Because of His love for you and me, He allowed His Son to be sacrificed. He literally surrendered Him for this to happen. Jesus, His Son, willingly agreed to do this for you and me.
These are truths that have helped me as I have walked through various types of suffering.
As the Triune God walks you through suffering KNOW that you can cry out to Him for strength, for desire to keep clinging to Him. Jesus is fully God and fully man and has experienced everything. He can relate to you in every way: physical, emotional, mental, relational.
Hebrews 4:15 –16 If you want to have a deeper understanding go here Hebrews 4:15-16 scroll down page to verses 15 and 16.
Also, are you still asking, “Why God?” but have not listened to Joy In Risk and Suffering, it is not too late. John Piper’s sermon has helped me to understand the importance of suffering in my walk with the Triune God. Having a better understanding has helped me desire to hold on to the Triune God and bring Him glory as a result of the struggle I go through. John Piper uses scripture to explain why it isn’t just the suffering of persecution that brings God glory.
Though You Slay Me Shane and Shane (featuring John Piper).
A Christian’s suffering is meaningful. We sing these songs with an inner joy, though the pain may not be lessened.
Hear the story directly from the second eldest son Dr. Daniel Wong.
For more Coffee Chat Assignments click here Coffee Chat Assignments 21 plus
