“You know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance.”
(James 1:3)
When Jim and I first married, we lived on a honeymooner’s budget, which means we did most of our furniture shopping at the local flea market. One day we discovered a wonderful antique brass bed. Orangey and almost black from the oxidation of the metal, its dismantled pieces leaned against the wall of a dingy booth behind other sparkling, more desirable items. But the price was right for us.
That old bed instantly became a treasure to us. But it had to be cleaned before we could use it and be proud of it. So we hauled our find home, set it up, and Jim went to work on it to see what he could do about the discoloration.
When I checked on his progress, I felt alarmed that Jim hadn’t taken a soft cloth and polish to the brass bed. He was laboring away with steel wool and a caustic cleaner! And he rubbed, and rubbed, and rubbed. The harder he rubbed, the brighter the brass shone. It came alive and was even more outstanding than we’d dreamed!
God’s testing of us through trials has a similar effect on our faith in Him. His trials are good for us. They bring out the best in us. Tests prove what we are made of and what we’ve learned—or not learned—as Christians. And they reveal how we’ve grown—or not grown. These tests are our vigorous “rubbing” by God.
Yes, we don’t understand fully the reasons for the tests and what they accomplish. And we perceive them as negative and painful. But remember that brass bed … and how it shone after some muscle work. Welcome the tests God sends your way. That way you will shine as a trophy of His grace!
A Woman Who Reflects the Heart of Jesus is a treasure trove of truths and applications that enable you to follow Jesus and let your light glorify God.
