Our response to seasons of trials, tests, and suffering demonstrates to the world around us what we believe about the nature of God. Often, when a loved one dies, there is a response similar to this: “Why would God would take someone from my life when I was finally happy. God did not answer. My pastor could not answer me. I lost faith.” The person who has suffered loss is asking the question “Why does God allow these trials? Does God love me?” If we end up with the answer that we lose faith, in our hearts we believe that God no longer loves us because we have suffered loss. We are blaming God for the troubles and the struggles we are facing.
Job was a man who loved God. Job was healthy, had a wonderful family, and was prosperous. One day, Job entered a season of suffering. Everything that was wonderful was taken from him. Everything except Job’s love and trust in God. Job did not respond by blaming God for his trouble. Job committed his life into God’s hands. Job believed that in every circumstance, God was still good. “Through all this Job did not sin nor did he blame God. ” (Job 1:22, NASB95)
Great people have had to go through storms in life.
Jesus and the disciples did. “Then he got into the boat and his disciples followed him. Without warning, a furious storm came up on the lake, so that the waves swept over the boat. But Jesus was sleeping. The disciples went and woke him, saying, “Lord, save us! We’re going to drown!” He replied, “You of little faith, why are you so afraid?” Then he got up and rebuked the winds and the waves, and it was completely calm. The men were amazed and asked, “What kind of man is this? Even the winds and the waves obey him!” ” (Matthew 8:23–27, NIV84)
Paul did. “When neither sun nor stars appeared for many days and the storm continued raging, we finally gave up all hope of being saved. ” (Acts 27:20, NIV84)
The storms and the tests reveal the truth of what is in our hearts. God already knows our hearts. He knows where faith must still be established. He knows that without faith, we cannot come to Him. “And without faith it is impossible to please God, because anyone who comes to him must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who earnestly seek him. ” (Hebrews 11:6, NIV84)
God does not create suffering, pain and loss. However, when the enemy who seeks to destroy us, comes in with loss, God sees an opportunity. He sees that he can take all things and work them for good when combined with our faith, love, and trust for God. “And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose. ” (Romans 8:28, NIV84)
Faith in its simplest form is nothing more than saying “Here I am God. I still love you. I still trust you. I may not understand the world around me. I don’t have any answers, but my eyes are on you.” This kind of faith is childlike faith that conquers. “who through faith conquered kingdoms, administered justice, and gained what was promised; who shut the mouths of lions, quenched the fury of the flames, and escaped the edge of the sword; whose weakness was turned to strength; and who became powerful in battle and routed foreign armies. ” (Hebrews 11:33–34, NIV84)
Perhaps in the time of testing, we should begin to pray like the psalmist. “Search me, O God, and know my heart; test me and know my anxious thoughts. See if there is any offensive way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting. ” (Psalm 139:23–24, NIV84) When we can see where faith does not reign in our lives, we have the first step to overcoming and allowing the test to make us stronger.
