Our illness may feel like a constant fire we battle, but Dorothea shares how God may be using it to mold us to gold.
“But He knows the way that I take; when He has tested me, I will come forth as gold” (Job 23:10).
My husband watches a show about modern day gold miners. We’ve seen the crews in Central America, Africa, and Alaska. Extreme conditions. Brutal hours. Definitely not for the faint-hearted.
When I read this verse in Job, I thought about the gold-mining show. How the men risked their lives for metal that sometimes looked more like a dirty rock than precious metal. So I looked up the definition and was surprised to find descriptions like:
Inert – without power to move, act, or resist.
Ductility – can be stretched, drawn, or hammered thin without breaking.
Malleability – capable of being changed, molded, trained.
Precious – costly; held in high esteem; beloved.”
Purify – to rid of impurities; to free from corrupting elements.
And, it made me consider the parallels to our Christian walk. Of moving only when the Holy Spirit moves, or realizing the only power we have belongs to God.
Of spiritual growth and the way trials leave us feeling beat down, even if they don’t break us (I Peter 4:12-19; Romans 5:3-5). Of God perfecting us so that His glory is revealed to everyone we encounter (James 1:2-4).
I questioned my willingness to go through God’s process, to make the necessary changes and sacrifices for Him to unearth His treasure within me.
Have I taken time to seek His wisdom and guidance (Proverbs 10:29; Proverbs 14:12; Jeremiah 29:11)? To relinquish my timelines, goals, or dreams and embrace His? To serve others? To walk in love (I John 4:7-8; I Corinthians 13; John 15:12; John 13:34-35)? To follow wherever He leads?
I know I’ve often missed the mark. But I trust that as I go through this life with pain and illness, my focus will steadily turn to God. And as it does, His glory in my life will shine like pure gold.
Prayer: Lord, we don’t like the trials that come our way. Help us to endure with faith, knowing that You are working to make us precious, perfect and complete, so that Your glory is revealed to everyone we encounter (James 1:2-4). Amen.
About the Author:
Dorothea Love lives in Los Angeles with her husband, Norman. They are the parents of two adult children. She has lived with chronic illness and pain for over 30 years. She knows she must rely on God’s grace to strengthen her whenever she faces a challenge. She invites you to read some of her other work on her blog: http://www.dorothealove.wordpress.com.
How do you feel that even a small part of your character has been refined?
Chronic Illness Pain Daily Devotionals 