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Trust in The Master Refiner

How do we learn to trust in God and not be afraid when we are in the throes of our suffering, and in the midst of various trials that living with Chronic Illness brings? We are in the hands of a Master Refiner who is watching over us with loving care. Who is this Master Refiner? It is God, and He has promised to never leave us unattended in the Fire. Does it sometimes feel like it? You bet! But we must learn to trust Him and His Word.

In the Refiners Fire support group we were discussing the difficulties for both the one who is ill, and for our caregivers as well, to hold onto our faith and trust, and how it feels to be in the heat of the Refiners Fire. I would suggest before you read this page, if you haven't already done so, to go and read the Story of The Refiners Fire first. This will make a lot more sense to you then! *smile*

Below is what my dear Sister in the faith, Mellie wrote about on this subject. Mellie is an ordained Minister and suffers from Lupus and RA. I pray her annointed words will help you dear one. Whatever your fiery trials are that you or a loved one faces, know that our Refiner will never leave you nor forsake you. God bless you.

Do All Unto God

I used to teach this lesson to kids, teens, and adults for many years when I was well. It could apply to many situations from things our kids face in life to situations at work to situations such as we have found ourselves at this time in our lives. I would often use the illustration of Corrie Ten Boom when she was in the Concentration Camp. She said that one of her main duties at one time was to clean the latrines (outhouses). She said that she would remember the words in Colossians 3:23 "And whatever you do, do it heartily, as to the Lord and not unto men." She said she would imagine that those latrines were her very own Father God's latrines and she cleaned them heartily with all her might and heart until they nearly gleamed. She said she was sure they had to be the cleanest latrines EVER and she was so happy to do it for Him. Her joy at doing her tasks for Jesus puzzled her captors because she was happy to do whatever she was called upon to do.

I would also add to my lesson the story of Matthew 25:34-40 about Jesus remarking about being naked and was clothed, and hungry and was fed, etc. They asked when did they do those things for Him and He said, "...inasmuch as you did it to the least of these My brethren, you did it unto Me."

I would add Galatians 6:10 that describes such tasks as "opportunities" It says as we have "opportunity," as opposed to as we come across a "burden" to do good, "especially to brothers and sisters." (paraphrased)

And I would close with something like Galatians 6:9 "And let us not grow weary while doing good, for in due season we shall reap if we do not lose heart."

God's Blessings

God will bless (even repay) each act of mercy, each measure of kindness, each demonstration of obedience (even if that demonstration is obedience to simply trust our Lord for the situation or illness we are in) yes in Heaven, but while on earth as well. The fruits of the Spirit are wrapped up in these blessings. (Galatians 5:22,23) There is no true happiness without them, not artificial or temporal fleeting pleasures of the flesh, but true happiness.

God has also not forgotten the sick. We equally have opportunity for blessing by our obedience to trust during our illness, during the pain. It is a hard walk for both sides. We all have need from time to time to cry out for more faith as the frightened father did when asking Jesus for help for his child. (paraphrased) "Lord I believe what You have promised, yet in my darkest hour, please help me to have more faith." What did Jesus reply when the Apostles asked for more faith? He basically told them they only needed the smallest amount, the size of a mustard seed, to be good enough. So, what is the lesson here? Even with the smallest amount of faith, it is enough. What we must do is let go of our fear. What He has provided is enough. It was fear of the angry waves that caused Peter to sink, yes? He knew Jesus was Lord of all. He could see Him walking toward him on the water. He let that fear rob his faith, his trust, what he in fact knew as truth. All he had to do was trust Jesus to keep him above the water. He didn't have to do anything to prepare the water or work up to it. As he was, he just had to trust Jesus would not let him down.

We Are Never Alone!

When we are agonizing in our deepest throes of pain, with the scariest numbers of test results in our face, or when we have given and sacrificed until we feel like we want to hide never to be found again, try to remember the words of the Refiner's Fire. We are not alone. God knows exactly where we are and what we are enduring. He would never take His eyes off of us. Whether we are the giver or the receiver, the specific trials we have are the ones that are right for us. God does not lump us into big heaps. He tenderly deals with us and refines us as individuals, His dear children, Whom He gave His very Son on the cross for. He has His hand on us and would NEVER, NEVER, NEVER take one blink of the eye away from us because we might be hurt. As the Master Refiner, He alone knows what our perfect image must be and what it will take to get us there. We must not let fear rob us of our ability to trust. He would never allow us to be marred because it is the perfect reflection of Jesus that He is looking to see. Harm to us, His beloved children, would never allow such a reflection. We can trust without fear. Praise You, Jesus!

"As the lady was leaving the shop, the silversmith called her back, and said he had still further to mention, that he only knows when the process of purifying was complete, by seeing his own image reflected in the silver."

Before and after my first remission in the early '80s, there was a song I sang in church that kind of became my theme song. I'm not sure if you realize it, but even though all ministries are to be ready to meet all the needs that come their way, such as evangelism yet all ministers aren't evangelists primarily. Dobson concentrates on the needs of the family. Some are focused on the growth of baby Christians after an explosion of a revival, etc. My ministry's theme was *trust* no matter what comes our way. Thank you for giving me a reason to dig through my old music. Below is the song. It's entitled "Do I Trust You." It brought back a lot of memories.... I hope you are blessed. Perhaps you'll remember it.

Do I Trust You?

Sometimes my little heart can't understand- what's in Your will- what's in Your plan- Oh many times I'm tempted to ask You why- But I can never forget it for long, Lord what You do could not be wrong-

So I believe You even why I must cry- Do I trust You Lord - Does the river flow- Do I trust You Lord- Does the north wind blow-

(Chorus)

You can see my heart- You can read my mind- And You've got to know I would rather die- Than to lose my faith in the One I love- Do I trust You Lord Do I trust you

I know the answers- I've given them all- But suddenly now, I feel so small, shaken down down to the cavity in my soul- I know the doctrine and theology, but right now they don't mean much to me- This times there's only one thing I've got to know- Do I trust You Lord -Does the robin sing- Do I trust You Lord- Does it rain in spring-

(Chorus- repeat)

I WILL trust You Lord when I don't know why- I WILL trust You Lord till the day I die- I WILL trust You Lord when I'm blind with pain- You were God before and You'll never change- I will trust You- I will trust You- I will trust You Lord- I will trust You- I will trust You- I will trust You- I will trust You Lord-

Lyrics by Twila Paris

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We have experienced much healing by learning to eat foods from God's Garden and making lifestyle changes according to the Word of God....we'd like to invite you to join our wonderful Ladies Fellowship for Christians. We look forward to meeting you soon!!