How Firm a Foundation is another of my favorite hymns. It rather snuck up on me though. I mean I heard it and sang it many times and gradually I realized I loved this hymn. I cannot tell you what I love about the hymn. Whether it is the words themselves or the meter of the music. Maybe it is a combination of the two. Either way this has become a beloved hymn of mine.
When thro’ fiery trials thy pathway shall lie,
My grace, all-sufficient, shall be thy supply;
The flame shall not hurt thee; I only design
Thy dross to consume, and thy gold to refine.
I have a confession. When I was younger, I had no idea what “dross” meant. The word wasn’t in my vocabulary. Maybe it wasn’t in my music directors either as this was the verse that was skipped most often. I would read the verse as we were singing the other verses. Of course, this was when we still had hymnals in the pew racks before COVID- 19 and modern projectors.
So, as I read this verse today, I understand a little better the process described here. I think that if you breathe then your path lies through fiery trials. It is just part of the process of life. There will be hard times. We live in a fallen world filled with sin, trials and temptations. Those who would tell you that life in Jesus is all sunshine and roses are liars. The difference is that life in Jesus brings peace that brings us through the fiery trials. We know we can get through because his grace is all sufficient. Paul mentioned having had to learn this lesson. He had a “thorn in the flesh” he called it. Here is what he said,
Concerning this I pleaded with the Lord three times that it might leave me.And He has said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for power is perfected in weakness.” Most gladly, therefore, I will rather boast about my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may dwell in me. Therefore, I delight in weaknesses, in insults, in distresses, in (persecutions, in difficulties, in behalf of Christ; for when I am weak, then I am strong. (2 Corinthians 12: 8-10 NASB)
Sometimes God lets us go through the fire to refine us to strengthen us. The impurities need to be removed. I mentioned earlier my lack of understanding where dross is concerned. Now I understand. When metal is melted down, like gold or silver, the impurities rise to the surface. The ick that isn’t supposed to be in the metal that make the metal less valuable. This comes to the surface and can then be skimmed off. The trials we go through are like that for us. God allows them for us to bring to the surface the impurities to then remove them to make us pure, refined. We come out stronger on the other side.
I need to add a caveat here, however, the problems we cause ourselves and the results are not God’s fault. Those fires were built by our own hands and are the consequences of our own actions. There is a difference. In other words, don’t say it’s a fiery trial from God when you are the one that lit the fire. I do believe God will see you through if you ask him, but you might get singed in the process and the scars remain for a lot longer. God’s trials remove the impurity and leave you stronger. Like Paul, you still might bear what you wish removed, but now your heart is changed, and you bear it better. There is an attitude change. A heart change. Dross removed. To be honest, I would much rather have God’s trials than the one’s I have created for myself. God is gracious. Unfortunately, when I am building my own fiery trials, I don’t build in grace.
Are you going through a trial right now? Is it one of God’s making or of your own? Are you a believer in Christ? If you have not accepted Christ as your Savior, chances are you created it yourself. Turn to Jesus for rescue. If you have accepted Jesus, let him refine you. He wants to pull the impurities out. What is he doing in your life? What is he wanting to address in you that you are holding on to? Where has he told you my grace if sufficient?
We as believers in Christ have a Firm Foundation. Jesus does not want to leave us as we are, and he daily wants to remake us into his image. He desires to make us more like him. Let him consume the dross and refine the gold in you. Walk on friend, walk on.
Angela
