Scripture: “For you, O God, have tested us; you have tried us as silver is tried. You brought us into the net; you laid a crushing burden on our backs; you let me ride over our heads; we went through the fire and through the water; yet you have brought us out to a place of abundance.” Psalms 66:10 ESV
Other pertinent scriptures:
Isaiah 48-10 “Behold for I have refined you, but not as silver; I have tried you in the furnace of affliction”
Zech 13-9 “And I will put this third into the fire and refine them as on one refines silver.
1Peter 1: 6-7 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. “
Observation: The Psalmist is lamenting God’s testing the Israelites and uses the analogies of refining silver, through fire and water, snaring us into the net and laying a crushing blow… but no matter what trials God used to test the Israelites, they were eventually brought to a place of abundance.
Application: Boy does this verse hit home. I have been through the fire more times than I can count and most of the time I have not handled it well or been thankful for what was happening.
Just like the Israelites I have lamented; I have cursed (maybe not often out loud) and I have cried. I became despondent and depressed and yes, sometimes I literally threw a tantrum.
It is so hard when I am going through something difficult to stop and remember that I am not in control of the situation and to take the situation to the foot of the cross.
I clearly forget that God has a bigger plan for me. He is hard at work forming me to the image of his son. I must remember to be thankful for all things even when I am going through a trial.
Prayer: Lord remind me that the trials you give me are necessary to draw me closer to you. Help me to persevere through the hard times so that I may remember that everything you do is for good. Lord keep me strong and help me remember that every good thing comes from above and that I should give my troubles to you and not lean on my own understanding. Lord, to you I give the glory! Amen.