Refined

“I’ll deliver the surviving third to the refinery fires. I’ll refine them as silver is refined, test them for purity as gold is tested.  Then they’ll pray to me by name and I’ll answer them personally. I’ll say, ‘That’s my people.’ They’ll say, ‘GOD-my God!” 

Zechariah 13:9

Sometimes, we’re broken. Sometimes, we’re betrayed. Sometimes, we’re beaten down to the point of physical aching. In these moments, we’re aware (most of the time) that God is in control. We know He’s sovereign and knows just what He’s doing…but what exactly is He doing? How can this situation be fair? God’s heart breaks when yours does, but He does have a reason for allowing such a situation. The way in which we respond makes the difference. This circumstance can define you or refine you. To be defined is to let yourself be consumed by the chaos. It's refusing to move on. It's letting the pain win. Refining is not the easy option, though. Refining is fire, heat, and hurt. It's uncomfortable. It’s painful. In the refining, we are also tempted to escape. It would be so easy to just walk away, not even deal with the pain. It would be so easy to ignore the level of the grief. Don’t do this! God will deliver you at His appointed, right time. He works in you. In a fire, He is able to mold you in a way that is impossible in the calm. Choose to wait on God. Choose to be refined, especially when the flames burn to the core.