Refiner's Fire

Look upon my affliction and my distress,
and take away all my sins.
Psalm 25:18

As Peter tells us in his first letter, the fire of trial brings our hidden sin to the surface. It is brought forth and we have the opportunity to either indulge ourselves or repent of this sin brought to light. Verse 18 of Psalm 25 has always been (and by always I mean my five short years with Christ) a special place to me. I readily see how trial brings sin to light. I see how valuable trial can be to our faith. I see why David would ask God not to take away his suffering but to take away his sin. Unfortunately in these fallen bodies our sin is endless and so can our suffering be. In God's sovereignty, He has made a way for one to seek out the other that we may repent and be forgiven.

Up until a week ago I thought my health was getting better. I thought God was in the process of healing my broken body. This of course pleased me but there was a part of me that would miss the pain. Not the pain itself, but the result of the pain. The times that I was in the most pain were the times that I felt closest to God. So many nights all I could do was lie still, breathe and allow God to carry me through. This week I found that I will probably not get better. I will continue to have physical pain. I would never say that it doesn't hurt to hear this news - I am grieving to be sure - but there is so much sweetness to it. This thorn in my flesh will glorify God and keep me close to Him far more abundantly than if it weren't there. The pain shows me where my hope is and, when it is not in Christ, the Holy Spirit tells me (directly or indirectly through my dear friends).

These trials have come so that our faith may be purified and proved genuine to result in praise and glory and honor when Jesus Christ is revealed. Since this is the case, Lord purify! Look upon my affliction and distress. Do not take them, but take away my sins.