“These trials will show that your faith is genuine. It is being tested as fire tests and purifies gold – though your faith is far more precious than mere gold. So when your faith remains strong through many trials, it will bring you much praise and glory and honour on the day when Jesus Christ is revealed to the whole world.”
1 Peter 1
I have been through my fair share of “hard” in my close to 5 decades of life, but a year ago I endured very bitter suffering. Perhaps as we get to know each other a little better, I will share more of that journey. Suffice it to say, I didn’t know how I would get through it. Months into my grief, a beautiful, very dear friend of mine, who had been a great source of encouragement and support to me (along with my husband and other wonderful girl friends) gave me this verse:
“But he knows where I am going. And when he tests me, I will come out as pure as gold.”
Job 23:10 (NLT)
It was a verse that showed me that not only did my friend have great faith in me, but The Lord Himself had faith in how I was travelling, clinging to His every word, as though they were my very breaths.
A few days later, I looked back at my journal entry for the day my heartache hit, and the verse God had given me that day was:
“Fire tests the purity of silver and gold, but the LORD tests the heart”
Proverbs 17:3 (NLT)
The Lord had forewarned me graciously, that a time of testing was to come. And had confirmed through Job 23:10 as shared by my sweet friend, that I was going to emerge soundly…even beautifully. What wonderful hope.
As women, wives and mothers, we go through the fire regularly. Sometimes daily. In small and big ways. Because The Lord loves us. He is removing impurities from our lives in the same way that the fire removes the dross or the slag from silver and gold. It is only under intense heat that our “real” self emerges to be dealt with beneath the magnifying glass of scripture. It’s not comfortable. It’s not pleasant, but it’s so worthwhile and necessary in order for us to become all that God has created us to be. Anything less would not be His best for us.
I have been a wife for 27 years, a mother for 22. Daughter of The Lord Jesus, homeschooler, teacher, macadamia farmer, and artist. Lacking Christian mentorship myself, I have been through (and still am going through) the Refiner’s fire of suffering and grief, of stubbornness and pride, of self pity and momentary depression, amongst other things – in my journey to becoming a more seasoned mother and wife. I have a far way to go before emerging as gold, but I have abundant peace and joy. I am living obediently, surrendered to His plan for me, and not struggling against His design the way I used to. I now have grown children who are walking with The Lord, a close family and the wonderful advantage of hindsight. In this (slightly) more mature time of my life, my heart is to share what I have learned, with you – fellow mother.
I’m certainly no more qualified than anyone else to offer advice and guidance. I’m simply a mum – who has clung firmly to the Rock when all around was sinking sand. I have felt the Lord leading me to use all the scribbles in my journals and all the life experiences He’s given me – to perhaps give you a more direct route to the Promised Land, instead of circling for years in the desert. Let’s go through the fire together, hand in hand and come out as pure gold! If you have found yourself here, I’m guessing The Lord led you here. May you be richly blessed by my humble offerings, dear sister.
This is a wonderful story I got from https://glimpseofheavenbook.com/the-refiners-fire-great-story-a-glimpse-of-heaven/
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.” (Malachi 3:3) 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 this woman called up a silver smith 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 silver smith, 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 as to burn away all the impurities. 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 silver smith 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. 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 silver smith, “How do you know when the silver is fully refined?”He smiled at her and answered, “Oh, that’s easy–when I see my image in it.”
If today you are feeling the heat of the fire, remember that God has His eye on you.
1 thought on “Introducing the Refined – By Fire – Mother”
Your humble vulnerability and steadfast faith is inspiring. I am certain many women will benefit from your Godly advice and the wisdom you have gained in your journey.