Trusting in Trials
“Have mercy on me, my friends, have mercy, for the hand of
God has struck me. Must you also persecute me, like God does? Haven’t you
chewed me up enough?... But as for me, I know that my Redeemer lives, and he
will stand upon the earth at last. And after my body has decayed, yet in my
body I will see God!”1
Job is a well-known character in the Bible, perhaps not
because of what he had when things were good, but because of his response to
the greatest trials of his life. He went from having riches, comfort, health,
and enjoying family, to suddenly losing practically everything.
During times of difficulty is when we usually count on our
family and close friends to encourage us. Job was trying his best to stay
faithful to God and trust Him, while also grieving greatly. I am sure he was hoping
to gather strength from his friends, but instead they just came to discourage
him more! His wife, in her own grief, had already told him to curse God and die
(Job 2:9), but Job refused. And when his friends came and started giving him
all kinds of bad advice, he literally had to silence them and remind them who
God was. Because of Job’s faithfulness and trust in God, he overcame the trial
and God blessed him even more than before! What an amazing testimony to his friends.
We will all encounter hardship and loss at some point in
our lives, and we are allowed to grieve and process all our God-given emotions
as needed. However, even in the midst of the trial, our trust in God should remain
strong because He holds the future and knows the “why” behind the trial. It is
also important to remember this truth when we are trying to comfort our friends
who are going through difficult circumstances. Sometimes sitting with them, crying
with them, and trusting God with them is all they need. This is just one of the
ways that we can be “as Jesus” to others who are facing hardship.
Suggested prayer: Dear God, help us trust your love and
faithfulness in all circumstances. Help us never doubt that you are in control.
Let our response to the trial be a testimony of your greatness to others, and
may we be a friend who listens and trusts with those in need. Thank you for hearing
and answering my prayer. In Jesus’ name, amen.
1. Job
19:21-22, 25-26.
Today’s Encounter was written by: Crystal B.
All articles on this website are written by
Richard (Dick) Innes unless otherwise stated.