As Silver Refined – A Manual for Navigating Life’s Disappointments

Are you going through a season where life is handing you some disappointments?   If so, I highly recommend Kay Arthur’s book “As Silver Refined:  Answers to Life’s Disappointments.”

In this book, Kay talks about how critically important our response is when we face life’s disappointments.  We can choose to turn a disappointment into “His Appointment” by trusting in the sovereignty of God and the good purposes that He is working out through life’s hurts and disappointments that are inevitable. 

Kay shows us the strategies of the enemy, like distraction and deception.  When we fail to respond rightly to disappointments, we are on a slippery slope and can spiral down from disappointment, to discouragement, dejection, despair and demoralization.

While reading “As Silver Refined” I found myself challenged as I reflected on how I’ve responded to disappointments in the past.  I’ve been in that downward spiral before and it’s only by the grace of God I was delivered from that pit.  I wish I had this book back then. 

I was moved by the personal stories throughout the book, but my favorite chapter was the last one.   “A Fire of Reminder” tells about Peter’s encounter with Jesus following his painful and bitter denial of Christ.  Throughout the gospel accounts I find myself relating to Peter who had a heart for the Lord Jesus, but all too often his mouth caused him to stumble.  Time and time again, Jesus was there to lovingly embrace and restore Peter.  Who doesn’t need a God of second chances?

“As Silver Refined” by Kay Arthur is an excellent book to help you shore up your defenses in the spiritual battle and help you come alongside others who are in the thick of the battle. 

Waterbrook Multnomah Publishers has provided me with a complimentary copy of this book for review purposes.  I was not required to write a positive review.  The opinions I have expressed are my own. 

What Is Sin? by John Piper

The glory of God is not honored.
The holiness of God is not reverenced.
The greatness of God is not admired.
The power of God is not praised.
The truth of God is not sought.
The wisdom of God is not esteemed.
The beauty of God is not treasured.
The goodness of God is not savored.
The faithfulness of God is not trusted.
The promises of God are not relied upon.
The commandments of God are not obeyed.
The justice of God is not respected.
The wrath of God is not feared.
The grace of God is not cherished.
The presence of God is not prized.
The person of God is not loved.

 The Greatest Thing In the World - An Overview of Romans 1-7

The Word of God

The Word of God
Creator of all things

The True Light
Rejected by His own

Receives children, born by the will of God
Those who receive and believe

The glorious Son of God
Christ Jesus full of grace and truth

by Susan Bunts Wachtel
September 18, 2011


In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.  He was in the beginning with God.  All things were made through Him, and without Him nothing was made that was made.  In Him was life, and the life was the light of men.  And the light shines in the darkness, and the darkness did not comprehend it. – John 1:1-5

How Great Thou Art - sung by Selah

Fitting In

One of my favorite things is to hear people tell their story on how they came to receive Christ Jesus as Lord and Savior and what God has done and is doing in their life.  Each story is different and I’m always moved by the goodness of the Lord.  It’s amazing to hear what depths God brings us from. 

Recently, I had the opportunity to hear people share their salvation story.  One of the people shared how as a teenager they felt like they didn’t fit.  As they talked it brought back some painful memories of my own teenage years and beyond when I didn’t fit in.  It brought back things I hadn’t thought of in years.

As I laid my head on the pillow my mind wouldn’t shut off.  Instead scene after scene of those painful years kept coming to mind…like a slideshow.  Sleep evaded me as painful memories took over and I questioned God, “Why did you let that happen?” 

Of course there were no answers to my why question.  I did a lot of wrestling with God that night.  I wasn’t able to sleep until I got to the point where I said, “God, You alone are God and I am not.  I don’t know why You allowed those painful situations in my life.  I don’t like it, nor do I understand it.  But I am confident in this…You are good.  You are wise.  You are working out a plan in my life, far greater than I can understand.  Perhaps You allowed the rejection and pain to bring me to an end of myself so that I might turn to You?  Perhaps, without rejection I wouldn’t have ever have come to know You Jesus?  So Lord…I surrender.  I surrender the pain and hurt from those years into Your loving hands.”

Once I got to the place of surrender, I was able to fall asleep.  Morning came far too quickly and I was tired that day from a lack of sleep, but I wasn’t haunted by painful memories.

As a teenager and young adult, I didn’t have the perspective I have now.  These days if I don’t fit in…I’m not overly troubled by it.  Especially when that disapproval or rejection comes from someone whom I don’t know, like or respect.  If it’s from a friend or loved one…it may hurt deeply and I need to examine myself before the Lord.  But I’m able take my hurt feelings to the Lord…He’s able to heal my heart and emotions.  He brings an eternal perspective to life’s hurts.

How do people live life without knowing Christ Jesus?  I am so grateful I don’t have to. 

In My Seat

All Shook Up?

Has your world, your life been shaken?  Have you, like millions, suffered loss from the unprecedented natural disasters, economic disaster or job loss?  Do you ever wonder what God is up to with so much bad stuff going on in the world?

Does God have your attention?  He has mine.  I would encourage you to visit Joel Rosenberg's blog and read the recap of his recent message "Four Reasons Why God Is Shaking Up America and the World" at the Wake Up Call For God's People conference. 

Meet Me In The Stairwell

I will remember always!  

Wake Up Call For God's People...Are You Listening?

To participate in Anne Graham Lotz and Joel Rosenberg's "A Wake Up Call For God's People" click on the hyper link.  The conference will be broadcast live on Sunday September 11, 2011.  Watch or listen to the conference simulcast live and pray for the peace of Jerusalem. 

⁶ Pray for the peace of Jerusalem:
         “May they prosper who love you.
 ⁷ Peace be within your walls,
         Prosperity within your palaces.”
 ⁸ For the sake of my brethren and companions,
         I will now say, “Peace be within you.”
 ⁹ Because of the house of the LORD our God
         I will seek your good.

Psalm 122:6-9