March 21

Have you noticed how God is refining you and seen the slag that is disappearing into the fire? Some of the trials that we go through are God's way of changing our hearts. We may not think we are too far from our example in Jesus, but when we start seeing the results and the sparkle of the precious gold beginning to show within us, we then realize how far from perfect we really are. There is an act of obedience and follow through that we are responsible for, but we are not the goldsmith. God is the one responsible for bringing out the best in us. It may take some time to bring us to perfection in our personalities, not because this is a hard job for God, but because we are so obstinate. It's sometimes like trying to pull a donkey when he has made up his mind that he's not going. That's probably why our trials seem to never end, because God is not seeing the results that He desires.

In this you rejoice, though now for a little while, if necessary, you have been grieved by various trials, so that the tested genuineness of your faith—more precious than gold that perishes though it is tested by fire—may be found to result in praise and glory and honor at the revelation of Jesus Christ. 1 Peter 1:6-7