Malachi 3: Then suddenly the Lord you are seeking will come to his temple; the messenger of the covenant, whom you desire, will come,” says the Lord Almighty. 2 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. 3 He will sit as a refiner and purifier of silver; he will purify the Levites and refine them like gold and silver. Then the Lord will have men who will bring offerings in righteousness…
Jesus is foretold as a refiner and soap. I used to make jewelry for a jewelry store. I usually made it using old gold and silver. As the old gold fully melted, impurities would come to the top. Once I was making a couple of personal items, rings that hold a crystal on a watch. One of them came out well and was easily formed completely round on a mandrel. I then turned quite easily on a small lathe. The other ended up with a stubborn place. I had difficulty making it round. It was not easy to start over so I persevered. I eventually traded the rawhide mallet I was using for a small brass hammer, then a heavier steel one.
I think sometimes we are like them both. Sometimes we are very cooperative with the Saviors reforming other times we resist, not wanting to give up what Jesus wants to change. It seems then trouble and pain increase. They are there to drive home the lesson. So when we feel we are going though a time of trouble or pain, it is a good idea to ask the Lord to show us what we need to learn through this.
remadepreacher 
Thank you for sharing, Kent…this is an important truth to remember
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