Come forth as gold

Job 23:10
"But he knows the way that I take; when he has tested me, I will come forth as gold."

This scripture, taken in context, has profound meaning. Job was tested in a way that is almost incomprehensible to us. He had it all and then God allowed it to all be taken away. Yet, through his tears and through his pain, he was still able to see God's hand in his life and still believe there was purpose behind his suffering. He was still able to praise God, his Father whom he trusted and loved!

We all have either experienced tough times, extremely difficult circumstances or know someone who has. After all, Jesus never said life would be easy. I am so thankful that even though we are put through the fire, it is so that we can come out as pure gold!

1 Peter 1:7
"These have come so that your faith—of greater worth than gold, which perishes even though refined by fire—may be proved genuine and may result in praise, glory and honor when Jesus Christ is revealed."

2 Corinthians 4:16-18
"Therefore we do not lose heart. Though outwardly we are wasting away, yet inwardly we are being renewed day by day. For our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all. So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen. For what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal."

Isaiah 48:10-11
"See, I have refined you, though not as silver; I have tested you in the furnace of affliction. For my own sake, for my own sake, I do this. How can I let myself be defamed? I will not yield my glory to another."

But, take heart because:

Isaiah 61:1-3
"The Spirit of the Sovereign LORD is on me,
because the LORD has anointed me
to preach good news to the poor.
He has sent me to bind up the brokenhearted,
to proclaim freedom for the captives
and release from darkness for the prisoners,
to proclaim the year of the LORD's favor
and the day of vengeance of our God,
to comfort all who mourn,
and provide for those who grieve in Zion—
to bestow on them a crown of beauty
instead of ashes,
the oil of gladness
instead of mourning,
and a garment of praise
instead of a spirit of despair.
They will be called oaks of righteousness,
a planting of the LORD
for the display of his splendor."