In this you greatly rejoice, though now for a little while, if need be, you have been grieved by various trials, that the genuineness of your faith, being much more precious than gold that perishes, though it is tested by fire, may be found to praise, honor, and glory at the revelation of Jesus Christ...
— 1 Peter 1:6-7
WHEN WE ARE going through trials, God does not deny us our natural emotions. For a season, we grieve. For a short time, we experience the heaviness of our disappointment, our sorrow. But when that season of mourning is over, we do something odd in the eyes of the world: we rejoice. We can do so only because we have the glorious promises of God. Even though we feel burdened, even though we have suffered loss or experienced pain, our souls are able to rejoice.
GOD WILL CONTINUE TO REMOVE THE IMPERFECTIONS WITHIN US UNTIL HE CAN LOOK AT US AND SEE HIS REFLECTION.
Peter wrote that the genuineness of your faith is much more precious than gold. Gold is known as one of the precious metals, but it is going to perish eventually. And just as the goldsmith heats the gold until all the dross is burned away and it becomes so pure he can see his reflection, so too, God lights a fire under our faith. He allows trials to break the dross in our life and cause it to come to the surface. That is the point at which we will be purified.
Remember: trials mature our faith. May we not resist the purifying work of God, but rejoice.
Father, thank You for the testing of our faith and for the fiery trials which You bring to mature and purify us.
In Jesus’ Name, Amen.