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. Would he vigorously oppose me? No, he would not press charges against me. There the upright can establish their innocence before him, and there I would be delivered forever from my judge. “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. Job 23:3-9 NIV
Have you ever wished you could just sit with God and talk about your situation? Wouldn’t it be great if you could ask him a few questions and get his insight! Time and time again Satan tried to lure Job into believing he had done something to offend God. His closest friends relentlessly accused him. Has Satan ever played that game with you? Have you ever wondered if your loss or your illness was a punishment from God? Job did not fall prey to his tactics! Though he was emotionally worn down from the situation, Job kept his spiritual senses. There had to be another answer and Job longed to come before his judge and be declared innocent! He was confident God would not press charges against 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 23:10-12 NIV
God knows the way each one of us takes! He knows the choices we make and the way we choose to live. When your time of testing comes, will you come forth as gold?
If you want to have the same confidence Job had when suffering comes your way consider the claims he was able to make:
- 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.
No doubt, Job was being tested, and for Job to come forth as gold, he needed to stay the course when the heat was on. Think about how gold is refined, it’s subjected to extreme heat that forces the impurities to rise to the surface. After the impurities are removed more heat is applied. This process continues until no impurities remain, and all that’s left is pure gold. Is that how God refines us? Is that what Peter was referring to in this verse?
These trials will show that your faith is genuine. It is being tested as fire tests and purifies gold–though your faith is far more precious than mere gold. So when your faith remains strong through many trials, it will bring you much praise and glory and honor on the day when Jesus Christ is revealed to the whole world. 1 Peter 1:7 NLT
Let’s be honest, life is not easy; Job was not the only one with problems! You and I struggle too. Our defining moment isn’t in the circumstances we face, but our ability to stay the course when the heat is on! It’s not easy but, oh, it is so worth it!