Chapter 303—Why Trials?
And he shall sit as a refiner and purifier of silver: and he shall purify
the sons of Levi, and purge them as gold and silver, that they may offer
unto the Lord an offering in righteousness.
Malachi 3:3
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Here is the process, the refining, purifying process, to be carried on by
the Lord of hosts. The work is most trying to the soul, but it is only through
this process that the rubbish and defiling impurities can be removed. Our
trials are all necessary to bring us close to our heavenly Father, in obedience
to His will, that we may offer unto the Lord an offering in righteousness.
God has given each of us capabilities, talents to improve. We need a new
and living experience in the divine life, in order to do the will of God. No
amount of past experience will suffice for the present, or will strengthen us
to overcome the difficulties in our path. We must have new grace and fresh
strength daily in order to be victorious....
Abraham, Moses, Elijah, Daniel, and many others, were all sorely tried,
but not in the same way. Everyone has his individual tests and trials in the
drama of life, but the very same trial seldom comes twice. Each has his
own experience, peculiar in its character and circumstances, to accomplish
a certain work. God has a work, a purpose, in the life of each and all of us.
Every act, however small, has its place....
Would that all might feel that every step they take may have a lasting and
controlling influence upon their own lives and the characters of others. Oh,
how much need, then, of communion with God! What need of divine grace
to direct every step, and show us how to perfect Christian characters!
Christians will have new scenes and new trials to pass through, where
their past experience cannot be a sufficient guide. We need to learn of the
divine Teacher as much now as at any period of our lives, and even more.
And the more experience we gain, the nearer we draw toward the pure light
of heaven, the more shall we discern in ourselves that needs reforming....
The path of the just is a progressive one, from strength to strength, from
grace to grace, and from glory to glory. The divine illumination will increase
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