Thursday, December 11, 2025
Malachi 3:1–4
Refined by Love
Malachi describes God as refining, purifying, and restoring us—not to harm, but to help us become more faithful. While the idea of refining fire may seem harsh, those shaped by love know that real growth often happens through steady, gentle effort.
God’s refining is not about pressure or punishment. It is about care, the careful removal of what weighs us down or holds us back so that we can reflect God’s love more freely. Sometimes this refining looks like learning patience. Other times, it looks like letting go of control or forgiving what still hurts.
As Advent continues, trust that God knows how to hold your life with care. Whatever God is shaping in you, it is done with tenderness, never haste.
Prayer:
God of mercy, continue your gentle work within us. Refine our hearts with love, not fear, and shape us into reflections of your grace. Amen.
a journey in existence 