By Josh Kerby
Do you know how silver is refined and purified? It’s actually a simple process. A silversmith will stoke up a fire, so hot that it burns away metal and rock. He takes the silver ore and holds it in the hottest part of the fire. He watches carefully because timing is crucial. A second too short or too long could ruin it. As all the impurities, dirt, and filth fall away, the pure silver starts to appear. Once the silversmith sees his reflection in the silver, he knows it is pure. I think it is an interesting process, but what I find most intriguing about the whole process is how the silversmith knows it is ready. It’s ready when he sees his reflection.
God also does this with us. He refines us in the same way. He burns away all the impurities, dirt, and filth until He sees his reflection in us. Malachi 3:3 says, “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.” What does it look like to be refined by God? What does the outcome look like?
I think God uses burdens and trial to refine us. When we pray to be like Him, we are actually praying He will refine us. When we ask that God will teach us to love as He loves, you bet He will burn away all things hateful within us. When we choose to follow God and completely hand over our lives, we’re going to get the fire. Don’t be discouraged by this, but rather think of how wonderful silver is after it’s been refined and how precious Gold is after it’s been put through the fire. God simply wants to make you wonderful and precious as well.
When we face our burdens and trials of refinement, don’t get mad, but rather thank God for purifying you. Hold close to those friends who want to see the purest you. Sometimes this refinement process can take a while, but I think a lot of it has to do with how we respond to it. If God is burning away our pride, but we are too prideful to let it go, that fire is going to get hotter and it will take longer. The quicker we let go of our lives, the faster the refinement process will be. Here’s the kicker though, it is impossible to refine each other and ourselves. Only God can refine away all the impurities in our lives and only God knows when we are ready. He will pull us out not a second too soon or too late, but when He sees his reflection in us.
Are you facing any refining trials or burdens? Pray for strength to endure the process. God wants to refine you to the purest you. He wants you to reflect His love, mercy, kindness, and forgiveness. He wants you to be wise and faithful. He wants to make you strong and secure. He wants to see His reflection in you. So when you are going through trials and burdens, remember, you are being refined and all the bad stuff is being burned away.
“For you, O God, have tested us; you have tried us as silver is tried. You brought us into the net; you laid a crushing burden on our backs; you let men ride over our heads; we went through fire and through water; yet you have brought us out to a place of abundance.” Psalm 66:10-12
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