Strength for Today

"Yet He knows the way I have taken; when He has tested me, I will emerge as pure gold" (Job 23:10 CSB). If anyone knew anything about being refined as gold it was the ancient sufferer Job. He knew that gold is not refined on the mountain tops of joy but in the valley of suffering. It is the fire of trials and testing that brings forth the gold of godliness. Proverbs 17:3 says, "A crucible for silver and a smelter for gold, but the LORD is the tester of hearts." That's good for us to remember when God is reducing us to a pure state. His testing is to free us from moral imperfections, to burn the dross out of our life, to bring forth the gold of godliness. Why does God expose us to difficult situations? So that we might learn to endure hardship and be refined as pure gold. The white hot flame of the induction furnace does that. Peter wrote to Christians in the first century who were going through fiery trials. He reminded them, "You rejoice in this, though now for a short time you have had to be distressed by various trials so that the genuineness of your faith -- more valuable than gold, which perishes though refined by fire -- may result in praise, glory, and honor at the revelation of Christ" (1 Pet. 1:6, 7). The word "crucible" comes from the same root word for "cross." Christ's suffering and death on the cross was not forever and it produced salvation for lost mankind. Your "short time" in the crucible will not be forever either, and it will bring great gain for you and those whom your life touches.

[Since I posted this, a friend commented: "Asking God to bring a quick end to a trial can sometimes be out of order. No one would ask the refiner of gold to remove it from the fire until it is purified, and the work is done." I like that thought.]