A great image that my youth pastor used to help us understand the trials that we go through is with the purification of silver.
Silver is purified by fire.
The silver is placed into the fire- As Christians we go through these trials(fire) set before us by God in order to better ourselves as Christians and to help others.
The purification in progress- As Christians God won't put us in situations that we can't handle, but the trials that we are put through are to make us stronger and draw us closer to God. Much like being literally placed into a fire, these trials may not/will not be pleasurable, but that is only to draw us closer to Him.
The finished product (purified silver)- The fact that God won't dish out more than we can handle is evident that he knows what he is doing. Just as the metal worker would with the silver, he knows when to bring it out of the fire. God will help us out of these trials if we would but ask his help and just like the metal worker God knows his work is finished when he can see his reflection in his creation.
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