Refined Faith

By Kori Ellis

“In all this you greatly rejoice, though now for a little while you may have had to suffer grief in all kinds of trials. These have come so that the proven genuineness of your faith—of greater worth than gold, which perishes even though refined by fire—may result in praise, glory and honor when Jesus Christ is revealed. Though you have not seen him, you love him; and even though you do not see him now, you believe in him and are filled with an inexpressible and glorious joy, for you are receiving the end result of your faith, the salvation of your souls.”—1 Peter 1:6-9 (NIV)

The morning dawned bright and clear, but there was a heavy cloud hanging over our family. The day had come for my husband and me and our two teenaged daughters to return our three-year-old foster son, Noah, to his biological family. Noah had been in our home for almost two years, and we had hoped to adopt him. However, the law required us to return him back to his parents, who were mentally unstable and likely unable to provide for his needs. 

As we grieved this great loss as a family, I remember crying out to God for some sort of hope for Noah’s life. The Lord graciously led me to Isaiah 54:13 (NIV), which says, “All your children will be taught by the Lord, and great will be their peace.” A God-breathed promise just for me in that moment. Noah was (and is) the son of my heart, and God is going to make a way to teach Noah about Himself so he can have peace in his life! 

Trials of any kind are never fun, but when we look at Scripture, we see they have a divine purpose. Our temporary suffering and grief leads us to a proven genuineness of faith, a refined faith, and a deeper faith. 

In today’s passage, Peter tells us that this type of faith is lasting. It’s more valuable than gold! And this type of faith brings praise, glory, and honor to Jesus! When we choose to trust God in the midst of intense trials, He is faithful to refine us and make us more like Him.

So here I am, eight years later, still clinging by faith to the promise God has given me for Noah’s life. For me, this has been an authentic opportunity to have confidence in what I hope for and assurance of what I do not see (Hebrews 11:1). 

I may never know, in this life, how God is fulfilling His promise in Noah’s life, but I KNOW that He is! I can’t see it, but I believe it. And the peace I have received through my refined faith has been truly beyond my understanding, guarding my heart and mind in Christ Jesus (Philippians 4:7).

Pause: Take a moment to think about how the trial you’re going through could be of greater worth than gold.

Practice: Thank God daily for the opportunity to trust Him, by faith, even when you don’t understand your current suffering.

Pray: Thank you, Jesus, that You have a plan for my suffering. Please help me to trust You through every trial so my faith will be refined and I will bring praise, glory, and honor to Your Name. Amen.