Flourishing in the Fire: Fourth purpose of Suffering: Refining

As we continue our series on the Purposes of Suffering in the Fire, I want to remind us of a truth shared in an earlier newsletter article: that the value of suffering may not lie in the suffering itself. Although the pain from the furnace's heat is definitely real, the true value lies in the changes that happen because of the fire. Another way to see it is that suffering often produces something on the other side that couldn't have been achieved any other way. This truth is understood well through our next purpose of suffering: refining.

Refining

The  refining process of metal is a straightforward concept that provides a visual  understanding of how the refiner uses the process to purify precious metals.  For example, raw silver ore contains silver mixed with other minerals. In its  raw form, the ore has little value because it cannot be used for anything. The  impurities must be removed before it can be used as intended.

In small batches, raw ore is placed in a crucible and heated to 2,000–2,100 degrees Fahrenheit to remove unwanted alloys and minerals. Simply put, the undesirable materials are separated, leaving behind purer silver. Maximum purity is only achieved when the process is repeated, removing the remaining impurities.

This illustration of refining metal serves as a powerful analogy when we think about suffering. Our suffering is always part of the Refiner's work to purify us, which He allows in order to remove impurities from our lives, revealing the pure, valuable humans He wants us to become. James, the brother of Jesus, states in James 1:2 that our fiery trials are a refining process, “making us perfect, complete, lacking in nothing.” The next logical question, then, is: what is it that we are currently lacking that, through the process of suffering, we no longer will be? Sadly, the answer to that question must wait for until a future issue.