Job 23:10-11, “But He knows the way that I take; When He has tested me, I shall come forth as gold. My foot has held fast to His steps; I have kept His way and not turned aside.”
People of God, never forget this fundamental truth – challenges are not just part of life, they are a path to growth. So the question is not, ‘Why am I facing challenges?’ but, ‘What is God teaching me through what I am passing through?’ This is not because God is unjust but because He is a loving Father who “disciplines the one He loves, and He chastens everyone He accepts as His son” (Hebrews 12:6).
Never forget that what God is teaching you is essential for where He is taking you. Any responsible parent knows the value of not spoiling their child by giving them everything they want; instead, they assess if they are mature enough to manage a gift so they don’t use it to their detriment. In the same way, you cannot legally drive a car independently until you have gone through the process of passing a test to demonstrate your readiness to take on the huge responsibility associated with driving. Although sometimes frustrating to the receiver, they are better prepared to manage the blessing once these vital lessons have been learnt – they come forth as gold once they have passed the test.
When you reflect on life, you will soon discover that life’s biggest lessons often come in life’s darkest hours. Painful moments often lead to fruitful movement in your life, depending on your response. God’s lessons are the greatest blessings because God’s training is the key to maintaining. Therefore, ask yourself, are you humble to learn and sensitive to recognise the lessons God is teaching you? Always remember that although, “no chastening seems to be joyful for the present, but painful; nevertheless, afterward it yields the peaceable fruit of righteousness to those who have been trained by it” (Hebrews 12:11). Look at what you are passing through today and remember that God has promised not just to see you through it, but to teach you through it. Indeed, God’s lessons are the greatest blessing!
Prayer: Lord Jesus Christ, thank You that you design and arrange events so that I can grow through challenges. Help me to handle these tests well so that I can come forth as gold for Your glory. In Jesus’ name, amen.