This passage reminds us to approach various trials with great joy. Throughout our journey in life, we frequently come face to face with a wide range of trials. They are an inevitable part of life, similar to how gold is refined through the intense heat of fire. They serve as a way to test and refine our faith. Through these trials, our beliefs are put to the test, and our ability to persevere and endure is forged. While the pain that trials bring may naturally lead to discouragement, we learn to rely on God and seek His guidance and comfort in times of adversity. It is through this process that we experience God’s grace and strength. Trials are a long journey, and God’s word provides the continuous strength for us to keep moving forward. His word helps us to maintain our faith and not lose hope during trials, allowing our faith to be elevated and making us complete and lacking nothing before God.

Trials are not the end but rather a necessary path to success and completeness. In the process of trials, God is not only our protector but also our reliance. As we are willing to learn through trials, our faith becomes purer and stronger, like gold refined by fire. Just as God says, “While undergoing trials, it is normal for people to be weak, or to have negativity within them, or to lack clarity on God’s will or their path for practice. But in any case, you must have faith in God’s work, and not deny God, just like Job. Although Job was weak and cursed the day of his own birth, he did not deny that all things in human life were bestowed by Jehovah, and that Jehovah is also the One to take them all away. No matter how he was tested, he maintained this belief. In your experience, no matter what refinement you undergo through God’s words, what God requires of mankind, in brief, is their faith and their God-loving heart. What He perfects by working in this way is people’s faith, love, and aspirations. God does the work of perfection on people, and they cannot see it, cannot feel it; under such circumstances, your faith is required. People’s faith is required when something cannot be seen by the naked eye, and your faith is required when you cannot let go of your own notions. When you do not have clarity about God’s work, what is required of you is to have faith and to take a firm stance and stand witness. When Job reached this point, God appeared to him and spoke to him. That is, it is only from within your faith that you will be able to see God, and when you have faith God will perfect you. Without faith, He cannot do this” (The Word, Vol. 1. The Appearance and Work of God. Those Who Are to Be Made Perfect Must Undergo Refinement).

Let us pray together:

Dear God, we humbly pray before You, asking for steadfast faith and a joyful heart in the midst of trials. As we face various trials in life, may You grant us wisdom to perceive them and the willingness to submit to Your sovereignty and arrangement. May Your word guide us through trials and enable us to stand firm on the path of faith. May our faith be tested and refined like pure gold, so that we may receive Your blessings in every trial. God, we understand that trials are not Your abandonment but rather Your love and blessing upon us. May we experience Your sovereignty in trials and become more complete through the growth of our faith. Amen!