“Behold, I go forward, but he is not there; and backward, but I cannot perceive him: On the left hand, where he doth work, but I cannot behold him: he hideth himself on the right hand, that I cannot see him:” (Job 23:8-9)
Have you ever been in such dark circumstances that it seemed you could not find God? Have you ever prayed and it seemed as if your prayer never went past the ceiling? If any of these scenarios sound familiar, Job knew exactly what that felt like. He said he felt as if God had left him all alone. But in (v.10) we see three things that kept Job going during his trials.
FIRST—Job said, “He KNOWS me.”
(v.10a) “But he knoweth the way that I take:” Job said, “I may not know what God is doing, but I believe He knows exactly what I am going through. He knows the way I take.”
SECOND—Job said, “He TRIES me.”
(v.10b) “when he hath tried me…” Job realized that this trial he was going through was just that…a trial; a testing from God. God may be allowing your trial to show you what is really in your heart.
THIRD—Job said, “He will REWARD me.”
(v.10c) “I shall come forth as gold.” I love the optimistic faith Job had in the outcome of his trial. He didn’t say, “I hope I pass this test” or “I might pass this test.” No. He said, “Not only will I pass this test, but I will win the gold!”
Job said what we need to say during our trials. He said, “I cannot control my circumstances, but I can control my FAITH in the midst of my circumstances.” What a lesson for us during those times when we can’t see God.