Abundant pain is a good thing!

I was reading in Psalm 66 last week when I came across these two verses: “For you, O God, tested us; you refined us like silver” (Psalm 66:10)

“...we went through fire and water, but you bought us to a place of abundance” (Psalm 66:12)

Honestly, I cringe when I read verses like Psalm 66:10. I don’t like being tested or refined. Refinement hurts.

Psalm66

When silver is refined, it is heated and cooled repeatedly, and the dross that comes to the top is removed. This process happens over and over until the silver is purified. I think God treats us the same way, but with great love, as He shapes us to be who He wants us to be, so that we can do what He wants us to do. That’s why I cringe when I read verses like that -- refinement isn’t fun.

That’s why I’m thankful for verses like Psalm 66:12 that remind me that God takes me through fire and water in order to put me in position to receive His abundant blessing! In 2 Corinthians 9, Paul lists some of the abundant blessings of God, here are just a few:

Blessings in proportion to our giving (9:6)

Grace for every trial (9:8)

Opportunity to serve (9:9)

Financial blessing to enable generous giving (9:11)

Broader influence than we could have on our own (9:12)

God’s work in us, allows Him to multiply His work through us.

Are you being refined? Do you feel like you’re experiencing the heat of God’s work in your life? It’s hurts, but the process produces the harvest of righteousness God is after (Hebrews 12:11). If you will be trained up by it, the results will be worth the heat. The joy of God’s abundance is worth the discomfort of God’s testing.

Go ahead and take the plunge, life -- even your painful trial -- is better on the water!