Trials

After Job had lost his family and home and all that meant the world to him here on Earth, he worshipped God. He fell to the ground in WORSHIP! He cried out, "Naked I came from my mother's womb, and naked I will depart. The Lord gave and the Lord has taken away. May the name of the Lord be praised." (Job 1:21) Job saw that God was at work in his circumstances and that all of his suffering gave him no right to accuse God of wrong doing. Even in hard times, Job stuck to beleiving in God and followin God's plan. 

Job later said, "Shall we accept good from God, and not trouble?" Job's faith was steadfast. He knew the scripture and quoted it to remind himself of God's promises. Later in the scripture, Job said to the Lord, "I know that you can do all things; no plan of yours can be thwarted." Job suffered greatly and cried out to God for mercy. Job didn't understand God's purpose in taking so much from him, but that didn't make Job turn his back completely to God. In the end, Job's faith in the Lord led to even more blessings from out gracious father. 

Recently I have been reading Joyce Meyer's book, "Never Give Up." In the beginning of the book, Joyce speaks on fear, trials, and overcoming. Joyce explains in the excerpts below that faith grows through trials. God rewarded Job for his faith through immeasurable suffering. If we keep our eyes on God through times of need and loss, we can grow in our righteousness and relationship with him. Here is some of what Joyce had to say:

"One reasons we must go through trials is to test our quality. Often, we find ourselves wishing we had the faith of so-and-so. I can assure you, if she has a strong and vibrant faith, she did not develop it easily. Just as muscles are built through exercise, firm faith comes from the furnace of affliction."

"No one who does anything worthwhile for God has traveled an easy road. Doing great things for God requires character, and character is developed by passing life's tests and staying faithful to him through trials." 

Peter 4:12

"Dear friends, do not be surprised at the painful trial you are suffering, as though something strange were happening to you. But rejoice that you participate in the sufferings of Christ, so that you may be overjoyed when his glory is revealed."

James 1:2-3

"Consider it pure joy, my brothers, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith develops perserverance. Perserverance must finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything. If any of you lacks wisdom, he should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to him."

Joyce continues, "One reason God allows us to go through tests and trials is so hidden things in our hearts can be exposed. Until they are exposed, we cannot do anything about them. But once we see then we can begin to face them and ask God to help us. God does not allow us to go through difficult times because he likes to see us suffer; he allows us to walk through them so we will recognize our need for him."

John 8:32 

Jesus said, "If you hold to my teachings, you are really my disciples. Then you will know the truth and the truth will set you free." 

** Placing you faith in God as you face challenges, knowing they are for our good, opens the door for God to work miracles our of messes!!