And the God of all grace, who called you to his eternal glory in Christ, after you have suffered a little while, will himself restore you and make you strong, firm and steadfast.
— 1 Peter 5:10
A group of women were studying the Old Testament one day, and they came across the verse that describes God as a “refiner of pure silver” (Malachi 3:3). One woman was puzzled at the reference, so she called a local silversmith to see if she could observe the process of refining silver.
She watched as the man held a piece of silver over the hottest flames of the fire and let it heat up. The woman thought about God holding us in such a hot spot. Then the man said something interesting: He said that he had to observe the process the entire time, and if he looked away even for a moment, the silver could be destroyed.
The woman then asked the silversmith, “How do you know when the silver is fully refined?” He smiled and answered, “That’s easy – when I can see my image in it.”
Our lives are a refining process. And God often sets us in the hottest of fires in order to burn away the impurities in our lives – but He’s always with us when we’re in the fire. And what’s the goal of the process? It’s to reflect His image even clearer.
So don’t be discouraged if you’re experiencing a fiery trial today. Remember that God is refining you as pure silver – so you may be more like Him!
Prayer Challenge
Ask God to show you how He’s refining you in the midst of your struggles.
Questions for Thought
What is it about going through hardships that makes us more like God?
What struggles are you facing today where God may be working to make you more like Him?