Cloth can be used to dust off a piece of gold, but for embedded impurities to be removed, the metal has to be refined. In other words, it must be melted by fire so that any tarnish or flaw can rise and be skimmed from the surface.

    The Christian life is often compared to this process. (Malachi 3:3) When we face struggles, God is refining us like precious metal, digging deep into our lives to eliminate all the dirt and pollution. He does this not to hurt us, but rather to help us grow into beautiful reflections of Him.

    In this issue, we relate stories of believers who have endured deep heartaches and emerged more Christlike as a result. There is Lt. Col. Brian Birdwell, who narrowly escaped from the burning Pentagon on September 11, 2001. Intense suffering gave him profound insight into the unstoppable love of Christ, which triumphed even through the inhumane brutality of crucifixion.

    We meet Jerry Sittser, whose intense grief led him to explore the true nature of prayer. On his sorrowful journey, he discovered what it means when God appears not to answer our petitions. We also observe the faith journey of Jairus, the saint highlighted as our "Mighty in Spirit" example. In his desperate effort to unite Jesus with a sick child, Jairus became keenly aware of God's perfect timing and his own need for patience in the face of trials.

    Sometimes in our difficulties, we want to shake our fist at God. You might be surprised to know that many people in Scripture came to the Lord in fear, anger, and sadness. Michael Card explores this ancient form of expression, called lament, and urges Christians to take a deeper look at honest communication with God.

    Through our struggles, God also equips us to serve others. The most loving people I know are individuals who have walked through dark valleys of difficulty—people like Heather Gemmen. God opened a well of compassion in her that continues to sustain her family and other women who share her personal tragedy.

    Our natural reaction to pain is an intense desire to escape it, but God uses suffering to mature and strengthen His children. Understanding that our loving Father always has our best interest in mind can help us face our circumstances with endurance and hope. I trust you will be as inspired as I am by these stories of triumph over tragedy.