Trials are Always Temporary

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


The book of Job is the oldest book in the Bible. It was written before Genesis, before the Law, before the prophets, before Christ came, before the cross and the Resurrection. The book never mentions Israel. Yet, the story of Job, addresses issues so fundamental to a Christian's faith walk with Christ that its lessons can be found through out the Bible and the New Testament. It is a mistake to dismiss the book of Job as irrelevant to Christians today.

"When he has tested me, I will come forth as gold". The idea contained in this statement of Job directed to his friend Eliphaz, can be found through out the Bible. The message is this: people who know God are put through fires of refinement. These types of trials are characteristics of people who are right with God. The purpose is always the same: spiritual growth.

Peter writes:

(1 Peter 1:6-7) In this you greatly rejoice, though now for a little while you may have had to suffer grief in all kinds of trials. 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.

James writes:

(James 1:2-3) Consider it pure joy, my brothers, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith develops perseverance.

Paul puts it this way:

(Rom 5:3-4) but we also rejoice in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance; perseverance, character; and character, hope.

Jesus said this:

(John 16:33) I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world."

Jeremiah spoke for the Lord when he said:

(Jer 18:6) O house of Israel, can I not do with you as this potter does?" declares the LORD. "Like clay in the hand of the potter, so are you in my hand, O house of Israel.

And Jeremiah said another thing, which actually shows that if you are living a life of faith without any trouble you are actually not pleasing to God:

(Jer 48:11) "Moab has been at rest from youth,like wine left on its dregs,not poured from one jar to another--she has not gone into exile.So she tastes as she did,and her aroma is unchanged.

The fact that Moab never submitted to the dealing of God left her raw, unrefined and unfit for God.

The Bible is filled with examples of God putting his people through adversity for the purpose of perfecting them. We are not supposed to be surprised when trials come. We are not supposed to lose our faith in God. Have confidence, like Job, that when it is over, and it will be over, you too will come forth as Gold refined in the fire.

If you are still not convinced that the story of Job is relevant for us today, listen to the New Testament's version of Job, the Apostle Paul:

(2 Cor 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.

Trials are always temporary, but what God produces in us through them is eternal.