But he knows the way that I take; when he has tried me, I shall come out as gold.

Job 23:10

The book of Job talks about God testing us so that we may come forth as gold; but a lot of times we do not realize that these ‘tests’ will not be rosy. It could even make us question God and his methods of testing. God is the potter; we are just the clay! The clay should not dictate how or what it is being made into. We forget that when we say we surrender our lives to God, we are truly giving Him freedom to mold us. That means God can use methods that are not exactly comfortable for us. This is the beauty of surrender: allowing God to do so much more than we could imagine. It is always a better deal when God takes over, because the end is always better! We can allow God to use this time to make us and shape us! Herein lies the start of a beautiful journey: getting to know God deeper through our brokenness and coming out stronger. There is a divine exchange that is about to happen- His glory and His strength to discover and walk in for ourselves. It’s time to go deeper! 

Job knew that the Lord was everywhere present; but his mind was in such confusion, that he could get no fixed view of God’s merciful presence, so as to find comfort by spreading his case before him. His views were all gloomy. God seemed to stand at a distance, and frown upon him. Yet Job expressed his assurance that he should be brought forth, tried, and approved, for he had obeyed the precepts of God.

 When he hath tried me — When he hath proved me by these afflictions, as gold is tried by the fire; I shall come forth as gold — Which comes forth from the furnace pure from all dross. 

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But he know the way that I take

My comfort is, that, though I cannot see him, and know all his ways, and the reasons of his dispensations; yet he, being everywhere present, always sees me, knows my heart and life, and observes the whole course of my conduct, my internal desires and designs, and the counsels of my heart, as well as my outward words and actions. It is a great comfort to those who are upright in their intentions, and mean honestly, that God understands their meaning though men do not, cannot, or will not. When he hath tried me — When he hath proved me by these afflictions, as gold is tried by the fire; I shall come forth as gold — Which comes forth from the furnace pure from all dross. Bible Hub

They that keep the way of the Lord may comfort themselves when they are in affliction with these three things: 1st, That they are but tried; it is not intended for their hurt, but for their honour and benefit; it is the trial of their faith, 1 Peter 1:7. 2d, That when they are sufficiently tried, they shall come forth out of the furnace, and not be left to consume in it, as dross or reprobate silver. The trial will have an end; God will not contend for ever. 3d, that they shall come forth as gold, pure in itself, and precious to the refiner. They shall come forth as gold approved and improved; found to be good and made to be better. Afflictions are to us, as we are; those that go gold into the furnace will come out no worse.

When he hath tried me – When he has subjected me to all the tests of character which he shall choose to apply. I shall come forth as gold – As gold that is tried in the crucible, and that comes forth the purer the intenser is the heat. The application of fire to it serves to separate every particle of impurity or alloy and leaves only the pure metal. So, it is with trials applied to the friend of God; and we may remark.

(1) That all real piety will bear “any” test that may be applied to it, as gold will bear any degree of heat without being injured or destroyed.

(2) That the effect of all trials is to purify piety, and make it brighter and more valuable, as is the effect of applying intense heat to gold.

(3) There is often much alloy in the piety of a Christian, as there is in gold, that needs to be removed by the fiery trial of affliction. Nothing else will remove it but trial, as nothing will be so effectual a purifier of gold as intense heat.

(4) A true Christian should not dread trial. It will not hurt him. He will be the more valuable for his trials, as gold is for the application of heat. There is no danger of destroying true piety. It will live in the flames and will survive the raging heat that shall yet consume the world.

 For I know that my Redeemer lives, and at the last he will stand upon the earth.

– Job 19:25