REFINE

Advent is a season of preparation, a time when we wait with expectation for the coming of Jesus. The word “refine” resonates deeply with the spiritual work God desires to do in us during this season. Scripture often uses the image of refining fire to describe God’s transformative power. Malachi 3:2-3 declares, “But who can endure the day of his coming? Who can stand when he appears? For he will be like a refiner’s fire or a launderer’s soap. He will sit as a refiner and purifier of silver.” This imagery speaks of a process that is both intense and purposeful. God, like a silversmith, applies the heat of life’s challenges to purify our hearts, removing impurities and shaping us into vessels that reflect his glory.

Isaiah 48:10 reminds us, “See, I have refined you, though not as silver; I have tested you in the furnace of affliction.” Life’s difficulties can feel like a furnace, yet in God’s hands, these trials serve a higher purpose. They test and strengthen our faith, much like how precious metals are purified through fire. Similarly, 1 Peter 1:6-7 says, “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.” Advent invites us to view our struggles through the lens of refinement rather than punishment. God is not indifferent to our pain; he is present in the process, shaping us with compassion and purpose.

As we reflect on God’s refining work this Advent, consider these questions: Where is God refining you right now? Are there challenges or struggles that could be part of his purifying work? How do you respond to his refining process—do you resist or trust his hand at work? What impurities—attitudes, habits, or fears—need to be removed from your heart to make room for Christ’s presence? Lastly, how can you actively prepare your heart this Advent through spiritual practices like prayer, Scripture reading, service, or quiet reflection?

May this Advent season be a time of surrender and transformation. As we await the coming of Jesus, may we trust in God’s refining love, believing that he is shaping us into his image, making our lives reflections of his grace and truth. Lord, refine our hearts. Purify us so that we may shine with your light, prepared for your coming.