I have Chosen Thee

Pain's furnace heat within me quivers,

God's breath upon the flame does blow;

And all my heart in anguish shivers

And trembles at the fiery glow;

And I whisper, “As God will!”

And in the hottest fire hold still.

He comes and lays my heart all heated,

On the anvil, minded so

Into His own fair shape to beat it

With His great hammer blow on blow;

And yet I whisper, “As God will!”

And at the heaviest blows hold still.

He takes my softened heart and beats it;

The sparks fly off at every blow;

He turns it o'er, o'er and heats it,

And lets it cool, and makes it glow;

And yet I whisper, “As God will!”

And in His mighty hand hold still.

Why should I complain? for the sorrow

Then only longer-lived would be;

The end may come, and will tomorrow,

When God has done His work in me;

So I say trusting, “As God will!”

And, trusting to the end, hold still.

                          ~Julius Sturm 

This is one of my favorite poems. I love the vivid picture it paints using this analogy. Maybe you are finding yourself in a fiery furnace right now. I'm sorry you have to go through this pain!! Please know that I am not trying to fix anything because I don't have all the answers, but I hope and pray this is encouraging to you! 

Here is something a new friend of mine [Jen Barrick] told/emailed me tonight: "God never wastes a pain, a tear, or a trial. He is faithful to find the most creative, purposeful means to bring beauty from the ashes, strength from our weakness... it is only a matter of timing!"

'No eye has seen, no ear has heard, no mind can conceive what God has planned for those who love Him' 1 Corinthians 2:9

My friend, you are a precious and priceless treasure!