Wednesday’s Inspiration

“These trials are only to test your faith, to show that it is strong and pure. It is being tested as fire tests and purifies gold, and your faith is far more precious to God than mere gold. So if your faith remains strong after being tried by fiery trials, it will bring you much praise and glory and honor on the day when Jesus Christ is revealed to the whole world.” – 1 Peter 1:7

Once there was a woman who watched a silversmith polish her candlesticks. As she watched the silversmith, 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 flame.

She asked the silversmith 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 a moment too long in the flames, it would be destroyed.

The woman was silent for a moment. Then she asked the silversmith, “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.” -The Refiner’s Touch: Author Unknown

If today you are feeling the heat of the fire, remember that God has His gentle Hands on you and will keep watching you until He sees His Image in you. And when He sees His Image shining through you, He will remove you from the fire and you can be His light to the world.

Imagine you burned your hand in a bonfire. Over time your burn will fade and a scar will form. Most likely, the scar will remain on your hand, but over time will fade in color. In the early months following your burn, every time you see your scar you will be reminded of the painful experience. As the scar begins to fade the experience will also slowly fade too because you won’t be visually reminded of it. But, due to the nature of the burn and how painful it was you will never completely forget the pain you experienced.

I think our sweet Father gives us trials from His most Sacred Heart and also at times leaves a “scar” on us to remind us of our dependence on Him. Also, so that we can help others who have been through a similar situation and truly feel their pain.

Fight Him with love.

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