Heartache happens. It happens to all. It’s always inconvenient. It’s often unfair, or seemingly so. It can be crippling for a time.

Heartache has a salve. That salve is a precious gem, a rare find that comes only through walking ever so closely with the One in Whom all things are purposed and planned. It comes through knowing God’s character and experiencing His care to such an extent that taking refuge in Him comes naturally, even while experiencing the most painful of circumstances. That salve for our souls, that gem, is trust.

Unfailing trust is the mark of the mature believer.  A mature believer is one who can say, after years in the Refiner’s fire, “I know that I know that I know – my God is sovereign, able, trustworthy, and good.”

I consider trust a precious gem for good reasons. First, it hasn’t come easily for me, and usually those things for which we have longed the most become exceedingly more precious when finally realized. Next, trust is formed very much like a diamond. Diamonds were formed when mineral-containing carbon in the earth’s mantle endured extreme heat and pressure. Without the heat and pressure, there would be no gem. The same can be said about trust in God.

Scripture talks of the refiner’s fire in reference to the process used to purify silver and gold. The refiner’s fire can only accomplish its purposes when the heat is turned up to extraordinary temperatures. It breaks down the metal in order for it to become moldable and shapeable. Only when the temperatures reach this level can the work be fully accomplished. So it is in our lives. The scriptural analogy, of course, is that God is the Refiner, and trials – those experiences which mold us – are the fire. The references in Scripture to this are so numerous, but one of my favorites is: “So that the tested genuineness of your faith – more precious than gold that perishes though it is tested by fire – may be found to result in praise and glory and honor at the revelation of Jesus Christ.” (1 Peter 1:7)

James put it this way: “Count it all joy, my brothers (or brothers and sisters), when you meet trials of various kinds, for you know that the testing of your faith produces steadfastness. And let steadfastness have its full effect, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing.” (James 1:2-4)

Paul said it this way, “… but we also glory in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance; perseverance, character; and character, hope. And hope does not put us to shame, because God’s love has been poured out into our hearts through the Holy Spirit, who has been given to us.” (Romans 5:3-5)

You see, those of us who have walked with the Lord for many years know for certain it was through the darkest of times that we learned to trust. We had to get to the end of ourselves before we would wholly lean on Him. But once there….oh my!! Just like the diamond, trust is a precious, glorious gem. Unlike the diamond, trust has the ability to dazzle our soul and to place wings on our hearts so we may fly above our circumstances. We know we’ll make it because our sovereign Father – well, He’s “got this.”

Am I saying that God always answers our prayers the way we think He should? Are we always healed? Is our suffering always removed? No. Mature trust knows that God’s purposes and plans are much higher than our finite minds can grasp. We rest in His wisdom. We desire His desires, knowing that whatever God has planned is perfect and is in place for the overall furtherance of His Kingdom.

If you found yourself nodding or whispering an “amen” while reading this, then you are likely my brother or sister. If you think this is a bunch of ridiculous twaddle, let me encourage you to ask Jesus to undeniably reveal Himself to you. He will. This will happen in His time and in His way, but He will do it. You will never regret meeting Him.

“…blessed is the one who trusts in the Lord.” (Prov. 16:20)

Joy in Jesus,

Jacquee