Do you ever feel like you are being refined in a way that is almost to intense to bare?
Are your life circumstances sometimes so relentless that it seems the troubles will never end?
This picture was created while locked in a phyc ward. It was about the intensity of emotion I was experiencing in the behavior of the staff towards me, it felt like the situation would never end and that being in there really would make me insane.

Recently I saw a sign that said controlled burning in progress, it was referring to some work that was being done in the bush to help prevent a serious bushfire, I thought that is an interesting way to look at this topic, that when we are being refined that God is still in control even though it may feel like we are caught in a wildfire.

So when we are being refined, how can we partner with God in the process and come through it a more pure vessel to to share his love? Here are a few ideas:

• Let go of the things that are less then his best for us and trust him when things don’t make sense
• Press into his truth and love for us
• look at what is in our circumstances that can be used for good

1 Peter 1:7
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.

Recently I started writing a song on this topic, along the lines of what I felt like God was saying to me:

The Refiners Fire,
makes you precious like gold,
Your heart shall sing of beauty and mysteries untold.
My desire for you is pure and true,
let me love all of you,
Let me take over you.

The refiners fire makes you holy in my sight,
don’t fight me as I reveal things anew to you.
The refiners fire makes you pure and true,
let me have my way and have all of you.

There will come a time when all eyes will see,
the beauty and splendor of my majesty.
but until that day comes keep your heart close to mine
and let me be the one, get lost in the divine.