You Will Come out as Gold
Then Job replied:
"Even today my complaint is bitter;
His hand is heavy in spite of my groaning.
If only I knew where to find Him;
If only I could go to His dwelling!
I would state my case before Him
And fill my mouth with arguments.
I would find out what He would answer me,
And consider what He would say to me…
But if I go to the east, He is not there;
If I go to the west, I do not find Him.
When He is at work in the north, I do not see Him; when He turns to the south, I catch no glimpse of Him.
But He knows the way that I take;
When He has tested me, I will come forth as gold.
My feet have closely followed His steps;
I have kept to His way without turning aside
I have not departed from the commands of His lips;
I have treasured the words of His mouth more than my daily bread. Job 23:1-12 (NIV)
"Even today my complaint is bitter;
His hand is heavy in spite of my groaning.
If only I knew where to find Him;
If only I could go to His dwelling!
I would state my case before Him
And fill my mouth with arguments.
I would find out what He would answer me,
And consider what He would say to me…
But if I go to the east, He is not there;
If I go to the west, I do not find Him.
When He is at work in the north, I do not see Him; when He turns to the south, I catch no glimpse of Him.
But He knows the way that I take;
When He has tested me, I will come forth as gold.
My feet have closely followed His steps;
I have kept to His way without turning aside
I have not departed from the commands of His lips;
I have treasured the words of His mouth more than my daily bread. Job 23:1-12 (NIV)
Job continues to battle with his intense desire to hear from God. He is overwhelmed by the inexplicable silence and disappearance of God. Job is confident of his innocence and he is perplexed by the fact that God has left him to the mercies of his castigators and mounts no defense on his behalf. He desperately needs the assuring presence of God. God is nowhere to be found either in the north, south, east, or west.
But through it all, Job surmises that something good is going to come out of his trials. He is confident that because he has treasured and faithfully kept the commands of God, his end was going to be a glorious one -- he was going to come out as pure gold. That's what counts the most.
As we battle through the trials of life, there are times when it would seem as if God has abandoned us. We can't catch any glimpse of Him.
But it's important that we understand the heart of God. It's important to understand that He only allows trials into our lives to accomplish a purpose. He wants to test and strengthen our character and testimony to encourage others who might find themselves in similar situations. We must believe that the fiery trials God allows us to go through are ultimately meant to refine us as pure gold devoid of all impurities; reflecting God's very nature and character. Don't give up. Press on. You will come out as gold!
But through it all, Job surmises that something good is going to come out of his trials. He is confident that because he has treasured and faithfully kept the commands of God, his end was going to be a glorious one -- he was going to come out as pure gold. That's what counts the most.
As we battle through the trials of life, there are times when it would seem as if God has abandoned us. We can't catch any glimpse of Him.
But it's important that we understand the heart of God. It's important to understand that He only allows trials into our lives to accomplish a purpose. He wants to test and strengthen our character and testimony to encourage others who might find themselves in similar situations. We must believe that the fiery trials God allows us to go through are ultimately meant to refine us as pure gold devoid of all impurities; reflecting God's very nature and character. Don't give up. Press on. You will come out as gold!
Prayer: Father, please help me to understand that the fiery processes I am going through are necessary for my refinement. Help me to keep my eye on the prize and not on the pain of the process. Amen.