I believe that most people who are reading this article have already been through some sort of trial or difficulty whether they be large or small. Sometimes we question God. “Why? What have I done wrong to have to go through this?” Sometimes, God just wants to see our reaction to the situation. He wants to see if we will have faith.
The Bible speaks of a great servant of the Lord, who was tried and proven. He had riches, a beautiful family, servants, and he was very faithful to God. When the Lord pointed out His faithful servant, Job, the devil didn’t think that Job’s faith would last through trials. So God allowed Job to prove his faith.
Job lost his children, his riches, and many servants. He humbled himself before God. Even having to endure all this unhappiness he did not criticized God for what he was going through. And even though his wife told him to give up his faith, he remained faithful, because he knew in Whom he had believed.
Considering Job’s position, we could imagine how he was suffering. We have to believe that no matter who the adversary is, God will help us. It didn’t matter how many and how big the problems Job had to face, God helped him through them. Sometimes we complain about small trials, but we should just give everything into the hands of God and trust in His mercy.
The devil hurt Job’s body, believing that he would deny God. At a certain point Job questioned, What is my strength, that I should still hope? What prospects, that I should be patient? (Job 6:11)
Sometimes in the midst of temptations and trials we want to think that way, it is at this moment we sometimes forget that He made us His children and allowed us to enjoy His wonders of peace and of refuge. It is in that same moment that, whether the situation is good or bad, we can rest in His arms and dry our tears. To Whom we can safely say: Lord we trust You, please save us and protect us from evil so that we may rest assured, knowing You are with us.
Will the trials we have in our lives be able to make us renounce everything that God has given to us? Will we allow the devil to question God about our faith as Christians and win the debate? God is wonderful to us, He gave us life, the opportunity to read His Word and enjoy His grace. He gave us the Bible as a sword to fight in this war. In the time of our distress, will we leave God?
His love for us was greater than the weight of the cross, and the pain of the crucifixion, and even then He promised to help us take up our cross and He gave us the Crown of Life. Why then would we doubt His Word and His power?
Even Christ went through trials. In all the suffering He went through, He knew He was doing the right thing by holding to His original purpose, from the beginning until the end. In the end, we will reach the reward He has for us. He will provide for us, if we just follow in His footsteps.
Job stayed faithful, saying: “But He knoweth the way that I take; when He hath tried me, I shall come forth as gold. My foot hath held His steps, His way have I kept, and not declined.” ---Job 23:10-11
God took away all of Job’s distress, He keeps His word and in time of trouble He does not forsake His children.
Jesus said, “Fear thou not; for I am with thee: be not dismayed; for I am thy God: I will strengthen thee; yea, I will help thee; yea, I will uphold thee with the right hand of my righteousness.” ---Isaiah 41:10
How grateful we should be to God for allowing us to be proven. God proves His children and allows them to be proven; He wants us to know the size of our faith! If we reflect on what we discover, we know that the trials strengthen us as Christians. A trial helps to prepare us to follow God with all our heart and fight against the wiles of the devil. Through these ordeals we develop our faith, patience, and perseverance.
“But the Lord is faithful, who shall stablish you, and keep you from evil." ---II Thessalonians 3:3
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