Gold Nuggets

On Wednesday, I posted about pebbles.  I ended the post wondering when I got to become pure gold.
(Know that I understand I'll never be pure gold this side of heaven.  I'm simply saying that I'm tired of seeing all pebbles - no gold!)  :)

So I looked up gold refining in the Bible.  (You know that verse I was thinking of actually deals with silver?  Oh well - analogy wasn't completely in vain.  There are a couple verses on gold refining - read on.) 

Job 23:9-12 - (Job speaking; "he" refers to God) - When He is at work in the north, I do not see Him; when He turns to the south, I catch no glimpse of Him. But He knows the way that I take; when He has tested me, I will come forth as gold. My feet have closely followed His steps; I have kept to His way without turning aside. I have not departed from the commands of His lips; I have treasured the words of His mouth more than my daily bread.


I focused on the gold reference, but God pointed something else out to me in this passage. Job says that he will "come forth as gold". Come forth implies to me that he walked through something. And in that walking, Job "kept to (God's) way" and "treasured the words of (God's) mouth".

I thought it a good reminder that the way to come through tough times in my life and to keep my eye on the prize of becoming gold; is to read God's Word and steadfastly keep God's ways.

But so I don't get discouraged that life is all rock and no glitter and that there is no end in sight to all those pebbles God keeps unearthing in me - perhaps I should look at it another way.

Maybe, just maybe, as I read God's Word, walk in His ways, and bend my will to HIS, - HE is turning all those pebbles I toss over my shoulder into gold nuggets. Maybe each issue in my life God changes from rock to gold gives me a hint of glitter. Perhaps I shine a bit brighter for Him.

Just a thought.
Have a great day. May you allow God to reveal, remove, and refine your life pebbles into gold nuggets!