“He knows the way that I take; when He has tried me, I shall come out as gold.” –Job 23:10
In great pain and grief, Job longs to meet with God but does not know where to find Him. Job believed God would exonerate him of whatever wrongdoing brought on these many waves of punishing griefs. Although Job has searched for God and had not seen Him yet, Job’s faith in God affirmed, “He knows the way that I take.” Job knows God sees him and knows all his ways.
Job longed for God like the Psalmist who thirsted for God like deer pants for streams of water asking, “When can I go and meet with God?” (Psalm 42:1-2). Job’s longing pains him as he waits for God. Job did not see God or know His ways regarding Job’s life and suffering, but Job trusted that God saw Job and knew the way of his life. Somehow, all of this pain and suffering is God trying Job like a goldsmith purifies gold in the fire.
Though in this life we are acquainted with many sorrows and griefs, the Christian takes comfort that such trials are not results of random events with no purpose. God is sovereign and each pain has a purpose, and we will come out as gold because our Savior knows our way. Dear reader, I know you do not enjoy the pain and grief of physical or spiritual trials which weigh you down in darkness to cry out, “My tears have been my food day and night” and “Why are you cast down, O my soul?” (Psalm 42:3,5)
Trust the fires into the work of the Refiner. “By day the Lord commands His steadfast love, and at night His song is with me, a prayer to the God of my life” (Psalm42:8). In the darkest hour, God’s song is with His children. The heat of the fire purifies the gold, and “I shall come out as gold.” What great comfort that not only does my grief have eternal purpose, but that God is the God of my life. He is my Savior. He will rescue me. I can trust along with McCheyne, “A dark hour makes Jesus bright.”
This, says the Psalmist, is “a prayer to the God of my life.” God, may this testing root me in Christ like a tree shaken in a storm strengthens roots into the ground. Remind me that Your steadfast love during the day remains now, though it is night. “Weeping may stay the night, but joy comes in the morning” (Psalm30:5). All my sorrows, iniquities, and griefs were on My Savior who is risen from His tomb. As Puritan Thomas Adams put it, “death is the funeral of all our sorrows.”
Christian, desire God with longing. Even if you cannot see Him or know the “why” of your trial, take comfort like Job: “He knows the way that I take.” God sees you and He knows your way. He prepares you for His everlasting, heavenly presence. He remains with you now, as our Savior promised, “I am with you even to the end of the age” (Matthew 28:20). His steadfast love enjoyed in the daylight sun remains on you in the darkest night.
Heavenly Father, how weak am I proven to be when trials weigh me down. Strengthen me for the Refiner’s Fire, purify me O Lord as I trust Your everlasting Word promised to me, “I shall come out as gold.” Bless us with Your much needed mercies free to us in Christ. In Jesus’ name. Amen.
