REFINING

But He knows the way that I take; when He has tested me, I shall come forth as gold.

(Job 23:10, NKJV) 

Children are great teachers of life happenings.  Their openness to change and the inquisitive questions that they ask, often speak to our own sense of curiousity.  Most parents will tell you, that when a child starts to use the three lettered word “why”, there is no ending to the conversation. They ask why this has happened and just when you think you have answered them, they ask another why and with the simple question ‘why’, the conversation can go on for a while.  In this interaction, the child wants to understand the essence or reason of something which to them does not seem to make sense.  Clearly, the adult has the reason for the thing, but to the child the reason does not seem plausible or even complete.  That is reason the why question by a child, sends us down a path that exhausts us in our effort to explain ourselves.  Brethren, allow me to say that even as adults, there are times we have the ‘why’ question.  In times when we have done our best but the results are not to our expectations, we ask why.  When we have lost what we had prayed to keep, we ask why.  When we fail to comprehend the hand we have been dealt, our hearts ask ‘why’. 

Our reference verse comes from a time when Job in the bible struggled to grasp the reason why his life had turned into so much pain.  We might have found ourselves in similar situations and we know the anguish of heart that accompanies such moments.  In the chapter, Job expresses his search for God and finally confesses that he cannot find him.  Yet, gives a critical shift in the conversation when he declares with confidence that through his struggles, God almighty is aware of his ways and the path he takes.  In this Job confesses that his pain is not hidden from God and that God will use the situation to perfect him, coming out of it as refined gold which has gone through the fire.  Beloved, this perspective of what God is perfecting through the fire sends a sound of encouragement to us.  Yes, the situation is painful and we want to get out of it quickly; yes, the questions are real; and yes, we know it is not in vain there is a greater purpose of glory that comes out of this difficult situation that we are going through.  It is true that we do not see the end but Job reminds us that what is happening right now is not the end of the story, the result will end in perfection.

Brethren, our lives on earth are not always comfortable, there are times we pass through rough patches, but we shall not lose hope, we shall hold the end of the story perspective.  Apostle Paul writing to the Romans, tells them and us that the sufferings of this present time do not compare with the glory that we shall experience (Romans 8:18).  Our eyes will be fixed on the glory set ahead for us.  Our Lord Jesus Christ endured the cross for the joy that was set before Him (Hebrews 12:2).  We too fix our eyes on Jesus and the eternal glory which is ahead of us, this transient rough patch will pass and we shall get into the glorious ending which is eternal. Beloved, we shall pass through these times, not stopping and dwelling in the dark spaces of life, but pushing forward to the end.  When these times come by, let us face them with a perspective of our perfection taking place, being aware that our attitude towards times of suffering determines how we come through them.  All we see and know, will eventually pass away and only the eternal will stand.  May we be encouraged to face the situations of life with a perspective that brings us out as gold, perfected for the Master’s use.

Thoughts:

Is there an area where you have a ‘why’ question?

What has been your attitude to trying times?

How have the trying times perfected your walk of faith?