pointpg11

                Our feelings may try to betray us and cause us to give up. Indeed, emotional or mental faith will carry us for a time, but sooner or later, we will be left standing alone, with nothing and no one to help us. It is then that we must "do" what our faith says and not what our feelings or thoughts say. When we "do" what God says, regardless of how we feel, that is a testimony to our faith.

                We can "believe" that God will save us, but it is our actions that will verify whether or not that "faith" is genuine or just a mental or emotional assertation to the power and supremacy of God.

                If we will take these "steps" of faith, He will deliver us once the "fire" has done its work. David often times tells us that we need to "wait patiently for the Lord". It is during these times of desperation, waiting, and diligently seeking the Lord that we are refined of the things that hinder our prayers. Failing to allow this work only prolongs the pain, and subsequently, God's ultimate deliverance.

                This refining is the same as removing the impurities from gold or silver. The metal is heated to the point of melting and the impurities come to the top. The impurities (or "dross") are removed and the metal is then cooled. This may happen many times to purify the metal.

                Now it can be understood why the point of desperation can be so effective to our spiritual growth. It is during the times of greatest pressure that our "real" self emerges. The dross, if you will, rises to the surface; and God will remove it if we allow Him to do so.

                If the dross within us is not removed, the time of cooling may come, but we will still have to face the fire until such time that the impurities are removed. The only other option is to keep the dross and never produce the harvest that God has planned for us; and ultimately to also be in danger of being "cast aside and trampled by men".

                The process to the point of desperation will motivate us to not only willingly give up the dross (and our will in the process), but we will give up anything and do anything to be in the presence of God. Anything short of this will always generate mixed results; and will in the long run cause us to be less stable and less able to stand in the face of adversity in the times to come.