THROUGH FIRE

"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 men ride over our heads; we went through fire and through water; yet you have brought us out to a place of abundance." Psalm 66:10-12

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This past twelve months...it's been a rough year. It has also been a very good year.

Today - this particular day on the calendar - is a special day for me. I have reason today to look back and consider all that has transpired over the past twelve months.

So much joy. So much delight.

So much hurt. So much sorrow. So many tears.

So much growth.

God is ALWAYS good. God is ALWAYS faithful.

We can ALWAYS trust God.

ALWAYS.

But honestly, in seasons of ease and delight, we do not even begin to understand the depth of God's goodness or how unwavering his faithfulness to us. That kind of deep-root growth, that kind of soul refining happens only in the fire.

So, I want to end this special day with this:

Dear One,

What a year! You have indeed been crushed; men have trampled you with evil words; you have walked through fire, and much dross has been burned away. But GOD in his great faithfulness has, by the mercy that is yours in Christ, brought you through the fire to a place of abundance.

Today, I praise God for the work He has already done and for the work He continues to do in and through you.

You have been tried as silver, and come out shining.

Today and every day, I am thankful for you, sweet child.

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"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." 1 Peter 1:6-7