I must admit, though, that a few minor events happened one on top of the other and individually it may not have caused much disruption but for a moment, all combined, it lead me to feel disappointed about other things (again, of which I have no control). As I was sharing with my mentor yesterday a few of the incidences, he, without hesitation (as he's so good at), informed me that I was being 'refined'. I immediately thought of the story below as I have read it many times.
Malachi 3:3
The Refiners Touch
There was a group of women in a Bible study on the book of Malachi. As they were studying chapter three they came across verse three which says, "He will sit as a refiner and purifier of silver." This verse puzzled the women and they wondered what this statement meant about the character and nature of God.
One of the women offered to find out about the process of refining
silver and get back to the group at their next Bible study. That week
the woman called up a silversmith and made an appointment to watch him
at work. She didn't mention anything about the reason for her interest
in silver beyond her curiosity about the process of refining silver. As
she watched the silversmith, he held a piece of silver over the fire and
let it heat up. He explained that, in refining silver, one needed to
hold the silver in the middle of the fire where the flames were hottest
so as to burn away all the impurities.
Silver smith putting heat to a silver bowl
The woman thought about God holding us in such a hot spot - then she thought again about the verse, that He sits as a refiner and purifier of silver. She asked the silversmith if it was true that he had to sit there in front of the fire the whole time the silver was being refined. The man answered that yes, he not only had to sit there holding the silver, but he had to keep his eyes on the silver the entire time it was in the fire. For if the silver was left even a moment too long in the flames, it would be destroyed.
The woman was silent for a moment. Then she asked the silversmith, "How do you know when the silver is fully refined?" He smiled at her and answered, "Oh, that's the easy part -- when I see my image reflected in it."
If today you are feeling the heat of the fire, remember that God has His eye on you and will keep His hand on you and watch over you until He sees His image in you.
AUTHOR UNKNOWN
As much as I read these things and understand them, I don't always recognize that my experiences are sometimes correlated with this so I was thankful that he pointed that out to me. How much better to know that there is a purpose for the things we are going through. God loves me so much that He wants to mold me and put me under the fire to strengthen me and make me more like him. To be the best version of me that He created me to be. How can I argue with that. Instead of feeling attacked ... now, I feel kinda special ...
Refiner's Fire
Until next time ... Don't let the tough times bring you down ... remember there is a purpose and let Him keep working on you!
Silver smith putting heat to a silver bowl
The woman thought about God holding us in such a hot spot - then she thought again about the verse, that He sits as a refiner and purifier of silver. She asked the silversmith if it was true that he had to sit there in front of the fire the whole time the silver was being refined. The man answered that yes, he not only had to sit there holding the silver, but he had to keep his eyes on the silver the entire time it was in the fire. For if the silver was left even a moment too long in the flames, it would be destroyed.
The woman was silent for a moment. Then she asked the silversmith, "How do you know when the silver is fully refined?" He smiled at her and answered, "Oh, that's the easy part -- when I see my image reflected in it."
If today you are feeling the heat of the fire, remember that God has His eye on you and will keep His hand on you and watch over you until He sees His image in you.
AUTHOR UNKNOWN
As much as I read these things and understand them, I don't always recognize that my experiences are sometimes correlated with this so I was thankful that he pointed that out to me. How much better to know that there is a purpose for the things we are going through. God loves me so much that He wants to mold me and put me under the fire to strengthen me and make me more like him. To be the best version of me that He created me to be. How can I argue with that. Instead of feeling attacked ... now, I feel kinda special ...
Refiner's Fire
Until next time ... Don't let the tough times bring you down ... remember there is a purpose and let Him keep working on you!
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