Hymn Encouragement: When through fiery trials…

“When through 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.”

-“How Firm a Foundation” (Public Domain)

Discovering a spouse’s infidelity certainly qualifies as a “fiery trial!”

I love the following line about God’s grace sustaining us through the “fiery trial.” This is SO true! I experienced it myself.

“I only design thy dross to consume, and thy gold to refine.”

While I do not take responsibility for the fiery trial, I do accept that God redeemed the fire to refine me and burn away the dross. I came out of the fire closer to Him and more mature than when I went into the furnace.

This is the beauty of these timeless hymns. The writers understood the ways of God, and that is why their lyrics have survived literally hundreds of years!

It was true back then, and it was true for me in the present. 

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*A version of this post ran previously. Grateful I serve God who redeems the fire.