like gold
a haiku poem about the Lord knowing and molding our hearts
you are trying me like gold. molding my whole heart to become like yours
About
“But he knows the way that I take; when he has tried me, I shall come out as gold.” - Job 23:10
“For you, O God, have tested us; you have tried us as silver is tried.” - Psalm 66:10
“The crucible is for silver, and the furnace is for gold, and the LORD tests hearts.” - Proverbs 17:3
What does it mean for the Lord to try or test our hearts? It starts on the foundation that he fully knows our hearts. Being the sovereign one who created us, he knows everything about us—our thoughts, our ways, even the exact number of hairs on our head (Luke 12:7)! As he knows us and knows all things, he leads us to walk and grow in the ways that are good and best. Such growth occurs through learning to depend on him through trials. I have recently been encouraged by these reflections in Psalm 119:
“Before I was afflicted I went astray, but now I keep your word.” - v. 67
“It is good for me that I was afflicted, that I might learn your statutes.” - v. 71
The Lord allows us to go through afflictions in life so that through them we might come to learn more about and draw closer to him. As heat is used to mold silver or gold, God uses trials to mold our hearts to become more like his.
Prayer
Lord,
Thank you for revealing to us through your Word how deeply you know and love us. Thank you for being with and comforting us through trials and leading us to become more like you.
Amen.