When God Tests, You Shall Come Forth As Gold

     "But He knows the way I take; when He has tested me, I will come forth as gold." Job 23:10 Job was a blameless and upright man who feared God and departed from evil, yet, he endured so many horrific trials. He lost his children, all of his possessions, his health, and even his wife told him to curse God and die. When satan approached God after roaming the earth, it was God who brought Job to satan's attention. God asked him, "Have you considered my servant Job?" Job 2:3 God told satan that he could do anything to Job except take his life. "Very well, then, he is in your hands, but you must spare his life." (2:6) One important thing to take away from this conversation is that satan can ONLY do what God allows him to do period. God knew Job, and He knew that Job would remain faithful no matter what circumstances were brought before him. Job had no idea of the conversation between satan and God, he only knew that many bad things were happening. In the midst of it all, Job could have very easily given up, but he persevered. He kept his eyes on his faithful Creator instead of his circumstances. Job's friends spoke to him one by one, wondering what he did to deserve all of this? Job had several things to say to his friends...."The fear of the Lord-that is wisdom, and to shun evil is understanding." (Job 28:28) "In His great power, God becomes like clothing to me; He binds me like the neck of  my garment." (Job 29:18) Job knew that the Lord Almighty was with him. God gave Job the wisdom to know that when God has tested him, he shall come forth as gold. Job persevered and God, full of mercy and compassion, "blessed the latter part of Job's life more than the first." Job 42:12
     Friend, you sometimes have to go through the valley in your life. This is not an easy place to be I know, but in the valley, if you will look at God and continue to trust Him and know that He will see you through the trial, I promise He will teach you things you could have never learned otherwise. When God takes us through a trial-He is shaping and molding our character. He is refining us as the Psalmist said, "for You, O God, tested us; You refined us like silver. You brought us into prison and laid burdens on our backs. You let men ride over our heads; we went through the fire and water, but You brought us to a place of abundance." Psalm 66:10-12 Did you notice in that verse that it was God who tested them and laid burdens on their backs? God is not cruel or unjust, He wants us to look to Him, He wants to grow our faith. If everything went just as we wanted it to, then we would never grow and more than likely we would become prideful thinking that we are in control and worse, we don't need God. EVERYTHING God does, He does in love. In 1 John 4:16, we read "God is love." God cannot go against His character. He desires for each of us to worship Him and to glorify Him in our words and actions. "All things were created by Him and for Him." Colossians 1:16 It is not about us, it is all about Him. When we stand in His presence one day, I guarantee that no one will be thinking about anything but the beauty and majesty of our King. All of the trials, the pain, and the suffering we experience in this temporary life on earth will be a fleeing memory. One glorious day, as a follower of the Lord Jesus Christ, we will get to spend eternity with Him and reign with Him. "and He has made us to be a kingdom and priests to serve His God and Father-to Him be the glory and power forever and ever!!!!!!!" Revelation 1:6

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