creating the name

I was enjoying pizza at IP3 one of the last Saturday nights of the school year. Alex, a close friend, asked me to describe this past year with one word. Why did she do that? Because she likes to ask thought-provoking questions, and she's awesome. So I thought about it a bit, but my indecisive mind was not fast enough, and the conversation moved on.

I did think of a word, however, and "refining" was what I came up with. I knew that I had grown and changed; that I had been challenged and even tested in the fire at some points. And through that, God showed His power despite my weakness and inability to do right. Every situation, whether I feel confident and successful or horrible and unworthy in its outcome, God uses me. Even in my disobedience, God is working to do what He wants.... and what He wants is good. Romans 8:28 ("And we know in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose.") doesn't say that in most situations God does this. It doesn't say He only does this when we're good or when we please Him. It says in ALL things he works good. That says a lot about His power.

Being refined isn't easy. If we're talking about metalwork, like silver and gold (what God refers to in Zechariah 13), then we're talking about purifying the metal by heating it up til it is molten. It's real, real hot. Not comfortable. So God removing our impurities to refine us is not exactly a day at the beach!! And if the beach is not something you enjoy, disregard this metaphor :)  But we can even have faith, be joyous, and actually REJOICE during this refining process! "Not only so, but we also rejoice in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance; perseverance, character; and character, hope." (Romans 5:3-4). As we allow God to refine us now, we can look and hope for the day when we will be comepletely refined, totally restored, and finally redeemed to the perfect children that God originally created us to be!

So in all actuality, I'd say not only this year was refining, but my whole life is a refining process. In His abundant mercy, He continually washes off my guilt and purifies me from sin. He tests my faith. He is good.
I love Romans 8, by the way. It's probably one of my favorite chapters in the Bible. So full of good truth.