The Refining

Our lives are in his hands, and he keeps our feet from stumbling.
You have tested us, O God; you have purified us like silver melted in a crucible.
Psalm 66: 9,10

There are days when my Divine Maestro brings this student into His silversmith studio. Each workroom is a place of learning, and every step of learning also requires some “unlearning”. The hands are firm and steady in the white-hot heat of the flame as the refining of the soul silver takes place. The flames hit the tender, still healing wounds in the heart and soul, which feel pain more than the hardened calloused areas. All of me must face the cleaning, refining, purifying process to become strong in the beauty and value that this soul silver is to reflect. He breathes upon the work to impart the necessary alloy for strength – God’s Spirit, the breath of soul life. Silver is valued for its malleability and resistance to corrosive effects of the elements. My soul silver needs to be more malleable through His infused grace and able to resist the corrosive effects the Liar unceasingly seems to send my way.

When the pain of this refining process seem unbearable, and I want to rail against my Maestro, He reminds me that when He holds me in the flames it is His hands that take the fire first. His hands cover the tender wounded soul in the knowing that the silver is there as much as where the calluses have formed.

Melting, surrendered, humbled, trusting my Maestro, I breath in for strength, breath out to let go a little bit more and become more tractable. His hands are the heat-resisting crucible in this refining process and they are the hands that continue to fill the chalice of my soul with extra – ordinary life!

Remove impurities from the silver and the silversmith can craft a fine chalice
Proverbs 25:4