As Silver Refined: Answers to Life's Disappointments by Kay Arthur is an insightful book that promotes healing in the midst of pain and discouragement. Her subjects range from defeat and despair, to endurance and God's sovereignty. This book addresses serious and relevant topics with hope for recovery and lists of healthy principles. She challenges readers to continue to grow and not fall into damaging habits.
Arthur uses both real-life examples and Bible passages to convey her points. She does so with honesty, transparency, and love, encouraging readers every step of the way. She is tactful but doesn't gloss over what needs to be said. Her writing style is engaging and quickly draws the audience in for an enjoyable experience.
Throughout the book, Arthur keeps coming back to the theme of refined silver. She emphasizes that trials help cleanse lives of impurities and that God, in his infinite goodness and wisdom, never leaves but controls everything. She also reminds readers, though, that they have a choice on how they decide to respond to God's offers. One of the supporting verses Arthur quotes is Psalm 66:10, "For Thou has tried us, O God; Thou hast refined us as silver is refined."
This book is a must read, whether readers have experienced a lot or a little pain in life. This book practices restoration as well as prevention, and it even includes a study guide in the back for readers who want to go deeper. This book is both an easy and enjoyable text, as well as very enlightening. I would recommend As Silver Refined to anyone from young adult on up. - Rachel Vachon, www.ChristianBookPreviews.com
