The world's most inspiring literature usually symbolizes suffering as fire. In the Bible, trials are likened to a refiner's fire where gold and silver are melted. A woman once read about the verse where God sits as a refiner and purifier of silver and asked the silversmith if it was true that he had to sit in front of the fire throughout. "Oh yes," the man answered, "I not only have to sit there holding the silver, but I also have to keep my eyes on the silver all the time. If the silver was left too long, it would be destroyed."
"How do you know when the silver is fully refined?" the woman asked next. "Oh," the silversmith replied again, "that's when I can easily see my image in it."
When we go through our own fiery furnaces, when we keep an eye on the things that afflict us and make the most out of them, allowing ourselves not to be destroyed by them, we ultimately become better or "more refined." And, just like the refiner who sees his image in the now purified metal, we are able to see ourselves better and let our true worth shine ever brighter. That's the beauty of adversity!