When one thinks upon life’s trials, pain or suffering, one cannot help but remember the book of Job. The book begins by giving a description of the man who is perhaps one of the most beloved characters in the Bible. Unbeknownst to this man, Job, God says to Satan, “Have you considered My servant Job? For there is no one like him on the earth, a blameless and upright man, fearing God and turning away from evil” (Job 1:8). Characteristically, Satan accuses Job as one who follows God only because he has been blessed. “[P]ut forth Your hand now,” Satan answers, “and touch all that he has; he will surely curse You to Your face” (Job 1:11).
In God’s wisdom and sovereignty, Satan was allowed to test Job. One after another, Job lost all his possessions, including every one of his children (Job 1:13-19). However, Job did not blame God. Instead, he worshiped God saying, “Naked I came from my mother’s womb, And naked I shall return there. The LORD gave and the LORD has taken away. Blessed be the name of the LORD” (Job 1:21).
Though proven wrong, Satan did not stop accusing Job. He presented himself before God a second time saying, “Skin for skin!… [P]ut forth Your hand now, and touch his bone and his flesh; he will curse You to Your face (Job 2:4-5). Again, in His wisdom and sovereignty, God allowed Satan to test Job.
The enemy inflicted Job with “sore boils from the sole of his foot to the crown of his head” (Job 1:7). Job’s wife said to him, “Do you still hold fast your integrity? Curse God and die!” (Job 2:9), but Job remained true to God. “You speak as one of the foolish women speaks,” Job replied, “Shall we indeed accept good from God and not accept adversity?” (Job 2:10).
What a man of faith–this man, Job–a man who did not have the luxury of having a complete Bible or fellow believers to comfort or encourage him. Just as God had declared before Satan, here was a man who truly feared God and turned away from evil! This fact was proven before the enemy; and, as made clear in the New Testament, trials “come so that [our] faith–of greater worth than gold, which perishes even though refined by fire–may be proved genuine and may result in praise, glory and honor when Jesus Christ is revealed.
How are you today? How do you respond in the face of trials? Do you react like Job’s wife or do you worship like Job?
Remember: God is sovereign. He knows your situation. In fact, He never allows any trial into our lives that is beyond our capacity to bear (1 Corinthians 10:13). Therefore, take courage, for the sufferings which we experience in this earthly life is nothing to be compared to the future that awaits us in Christ (Romans 8:18)!
