“For thou, O God, hast proved us: thou hast tried us, as silver is tried” (Psalm 66:10)

God tests us, He tries us, He does so as silver is tried-By fire. It is fire so hot we melt. We lose our form, we lose our shape we lose our identity. This trial by fire is obviously painful. But only in this state are we malleable, only in this condition can our stiff necks, hard hearts and thick skulls be softened reshaped into something useful and of God, not of man. But most importantly, when we are heated and tried to the melting point, to a pain beyond our own abilities, do we find our impurities. It is this slag, this dross, that let’s go of us, that comes out of us only when we are in the fire.

“All the saints must go to the proving house; God had one Son without sin, but he never had a son without trial. Why ought we to complain if we are subjected to the rule which is common to all the family, and from which so much benefit has flowed to them? The Lord himself proves us, who then shall raise a question as to the wisdom and the love which are displayed in the operation?” (Charles Spurgeon)

Ours tears of anguish are due to pain. It is the pain we just can’t take any longer. That’s the fire that produces the dross. This is the place we need to be. But how long, O’ Lord, for how long?

Asaph sang, “Will the Lord cast off for ever? and will he be favourable no more? Is his mercy clean gone for ever? doth his promise fail for evermore? Hath God forgotten to be gracious? hath he in anger shut up his tender mercies? Selah” (Psalm 77:7-9)

Have you ever felt like Asaph?

This is not a process we do alone. If we do, then we will surely melt and cool down and retain all of the nasty by-products about our lives. Except now, we can add bitterness and hatred to our growing dross. If we do not recognize that God does what is best for us and that we are to lean on him at all times, if we treat the fire as punishment and not for what it is, refinement, then we will grow in malice and be consumed in hatred over God and the process.

Rejoice over the temptation. It is a fight for you and your life. It is a fight for survival and a fight for improvement.

“Wherein ye greatly rejoice, though now for a season, if need be, ye are in heaviness through manifold temptations: That the trial of your faith, being much more precious than of gold that perisheth, though it be tried with fire, might be found unto praise and honour and glory at the appearing of Jesus Christ” (1 Peter 1:6-7).

Bill Hitchcock