Category: The Word

Testing of Your Faith
2 Count it all joy, my brothers, when you meet trials of various kinds, 3 for you know that the testing of your faith produces steadfastness. 4 And let steadfastness have its full effect, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing.

James 1:2-4 (ESV)

The Silver Lining In Difficult Times

In the first few verses of his writing, James invokes a theme that is found throughout the bible.  That of purification.

In fact, the terms trial and testing are directly used in the purification of precious metals such as silver and gold.

We know that we are precious in the eyes of our Lord, but in our raw format, our beginning, fresh out of the ground, rarely are we a pure nugget of silver or gold.  In most cases we are a combination of many things, good and bad.

The smelter will refine the ore, removing the impurities, the dross.  The process takes time, in most cases multiple steps, it takes knowledge and wisdom, and it takes fire.

3 He will sit as a refiner and purifier of silver, and he will purify the sons of Levi and refine them like gold and silver, and they will bring offerings in righteousness to the Lord.

Malachi 3:3 (ESV)

How does the smelter know when he is done? As he purifies, and he removes more and more of the impurities, raising the heat over time, the surface of the pot will become more and more like a mirror.  He knows he is done when his reflection is perfect.

Our Father will see us through our trials because His goal for each step is to shed the impurities. He has plans for us, even though what we are going through at the moment may seem capable of harm.  Follow the guidance from the Holy Spirit. Walk the path laid out for you and the dross will be slowly ladled away, until He can look into the crucible that has held you and He will be looking at you and you are a reflection of Him.

Trials and tests can be difficult, scary, life changing, and many more things in a way that we perceive from positive to negative.  It is through them though that the path is laid out for you, the plan that He knows, so walk with confidence because you are not alone, walk through the trials and tests because it will be here that you Seek the Face peering back at you.

10 Behold, I have refined you, but not as silver;
I have tried you in the furnace of affliction.

Isaiah 48:10 (ESV)