I'll tell you how I read this verse. I don't know if it is typical, if it is common reading, but it made so much sense to me and spoke to me that I had to share it today. When Job says God knows the way he takes, what it said to me is that God knows the way we choose naturally, the areas we have trouble in, the areas we rely on ourselves, our flesh, our own earthly wisdom to get us through.
So God refines us. He uses this area or areas for our good, to show us how to trust Him in them. Is there an area you constantly struggle in? That area is where God wants you free. That area will be used by the enemy and your flesh over and over until there is true lasting victory in it with God.
It takes time. It takes believing muscles. We have to look at our fear head on and say NO MORE! We have to charge ahead no matter how we feel about it and let God work the victory.
Oh My Fellow Dearly Loved Believers, if we don't do this, no one can. The world needs us to believe no matter what. Our churches need us to do this. Other Christians who live in fear need to see us believe no matter what and see what comes from it.
"Until the time that his word came to pass, The word of the LORD tested him." Psalm 105:19
Hey, do you see this? That is "his" word, Joseph's word. God has a word for us. We have a personal word that needs to come to pass, but until it does, God will prepare, prepare, test and refine us so we are ready for it. Remember what Joseph had to be ready for? To take care of literally the whole known populace at that time!
"For Thou hast tried us, O God; Thou hast refined us as silver is refined." Psalm 66:10