Trusting In God

“Behold, happy is the man whom God corrects; therefore do not despise the chastening of the Almighty. For He bruises, but He binds up; He wounds, but His hands make whole.“ Job 5:17-18

Job, a righteous and wealthy man, saw his own life of health, blessing and family taken away from him suddenly. Unknown to him, Job’s problems did not begin on earth, but rather in heaven. Satan, with God’s permission and divinely imposed limitations, launched a series of devastating attacks in an attempt to force Job to renounce God. But in the midst of each trial, Job maintained his faith and trust in the Lord. Let’s understand a few biblical truths:

(1) When you suffer, it is NOT always due to personal sin (Job 1:8). In John 9:1-2, the disciples wanted to know if a man who was blind from birth had sinned. And Jesus answered, “Neither this man not his parents sinned.” Your suffering is not always due to personal sin or disobedience. Job suffered, but he was a blameless man.

(2) Suffering in your life may be a sign that you are doing what God wants you to do (1 Pet. 4:15-16). God sometimes permits suffering so that He might demonstrate His perfect strength in the face of human weakness.

(3) Sometimes there is no earthly reason (though there may be a heavenly one) why you are allowed to suffer physically or emotionally (Job 1:12; 2:6). God allowed Job to suffer in order to silence the enemy. Out of the mouth of babes, God has ordained strength to silence the enemy (Ps. 8:2). Job’s suffering and endurance shut the mouth of Satan. Through Job’s perseverance, the devil was forever silenced from accusing God and man that: the righteous are righteous only because of God’s blessings.

(4) When you suffer, you need to trust in God (Job 13:15). God is always wise, and always right. The moment you stop questioning God, you will have joy and peace even when things seem to be going wrong.

(5) You need to develop endurance and patience (James 5:8-11). Job waited patiently and his restoration came. Job had hope in God. When you go through suffering and hardship, wait upon the Lord. Change will eventually come. “For you have need of endurance, so that after you have done the will of God, you may receive the promise” (Heb. 10:36). Are you being afflicted through loss of health, finances, or family? Check to be sure there is no earthly cause for your pain; then put your hope and trust in God. “If we endure, we shall also reign with Him” (2 Tim. 2:12).