“The refining pot is for silver and the furnace for gold, but the Lord tests the hearts” (Proverbs 17:3).
When discovered in its natural state, gold and silver are impure. Their great intrinsic value is impaired because of the other metals they are enmeshed with. Their value will only increase when the other metals—the impurities or dross—are heated up with it, burned off, and removed. Therefore, silver and gold’s purity and value improve after they have been successfully heated and refined.
The same is true about the human heart. It is its own admixture of good and evil, holiness and impurities, wisdom and foolishness. Jehovah—the perfect spiritual metal worker—ever seeks to rid your most precious asset (i.e. your heart) of its every impurity.
Because of the final, purified product, it will produce, having your heart and faith refined by God ought to be viewed as a time of joy: “My brethren, count it all joy when you fall into various trials, knowing that the testing of your faith produces patience. But let patience have its perfect work, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking nothing…In this you greatly rejoice, though now for a little while, if need be, you have been grieved by various trials, that the genuineness of your faith, being much more precious than gold that perishes, though it is tested by fire, may be found to praise, honor, and glory at the revelation of Jesus Christ…Blessed is the man who endures temptation; for when he has been approved, he will receive the crown of life which the Lord has promised to those who love Him” (James 1:2-4; 1 Pet. 1:6-7; James 1:12).
I think in the same way (externally) as we are being refined and becoming more holy, we get rid of the impurities around us. That. may be why we may not have as many friends or brethren who associate with us. Maybe the impure is done away with…
Just a thought, if it makes sense.