I’m Joni Eareckson Tada and it’s time for Joni and Friends.
Little words – especially little words in the Bible – can make, and they do make all the difference. Take Malachi 3:3 where it says, “He will sit as a refiner and purifier of silver; he will purify the Levites and refine them like gold and silver.” Now we all know – I sure do know – that old illustration of the refiner who heats up gold in a cauldron and sits and waits and watches until the dross is all burned away. And when he can finally lean over and see his reflection in the gold, then he knows it’s completely purified.
Well, Malachi chapter 3 describes how the Lord refines us in that fire. He turns up the heat on a trial until all the dross, all the impurities, all the sin and selfishness comes fermenting and bubbling to the surface of our soul. And then, like a refiner of old, God skims off the dross until he can see the reflection of His face in our lives.
But the other day when I read that verse, one little word caught my attention. Just one small word but, oh, did it make a difference. Malachi 3 says, “He will sit as a refiner.” What a comfort, what an encouragement that little word “sit” was to me! It means that God is not going to get up and walk away from whatever trial I'm going through. He’s not going to get distracted, he’s not going to get up from his seat and go wander off into something else while my trial is heating up. No, God is going to make certain – in fact, he assures me – he is going to sit there with me, thoughtfully and carefully tending to me… and tending to the circumstances around the trial.
I tell you, this wonderfully comforting thought encouraged me so much in this wheelchair of mine. Because there are days when it is so hard. I'll be honest, I'm not a plaster of Paris saint with this disability of mine – sometimes the discomfort takes my breath away, it’s so painful. But no pain can match the overwhelming comfort that God “sits” over my trial. He will let that discomfort go on for only so long… that trial can only hurt me so much… and, listen, my goal is to learn my lesson, or confess whatever sin, or get my faith focused right, or quit wandering and get back on the path… whatever God's purpose might be, I want to abide by it, I want to learn from it, I want to partner with and agree with my Father in heaven, my Refiner, my Perfecter and Purifier of my faith… I want to do everything from my end so that God can see the reflection of his Son in my life.
Remember that today if you are faced with a trial. Remember that the Lord God doesn’t wander away while you’re in pain… He’s not going to take a vacation while you’re in a fix… He is going to sit there, watching over you… until your faith is refined like gold. That’s a promise from Malachi chapter 3. That’s a promise from the Lord, our Refiner.
Friend, thanks so much for these special few minutes we have been able to share together. Because this program is called Joni and friends, please note that I would love to hear from you, so drop me a line on Joni’s Corner at joniandfriends.org or you can always contact us at P.O. Box 3333, Agoura Hills, CA 91376. Until next time, I’m Joni Eareckson Tada and you are listening to Joni and Friends.
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