Dearest Jan,
First, I wanted to tell you how much I love your writings and how much they reveal your heart for our Lord!
The Lord recently spoke John 14 to me, with an emphasis on, not letting our heart be troubled.   How precious are His words to us.
" Why are thou so downcast my soul?  and why art thou disquieted within me?  Hope thou in God: for I shall yet praise him, who is the health of my countenance and my God!"  (Psalms 42:11)
The Lord is speaking tenderly to His children.  His word is constantly reassuring me, even though I have been in the 'crucible of purification'.
The Lord spoke the word "crucible" to me about a year ago.  I honestly never used that word and only thought I knew what that was.  I thought it was a vise grip on a work bench :)  But, after He spoke, I took up my dictionary to see it was altogether different!
John 10:27-28 has been my confidence in this place of testing.  I His little lamb will hear His voice and follow Him, even into the desert place.
Blessing to you, Jan.
Sweetlybroken