Count It All Joy!

“Is it for nothing that Job is God-fearing? Have You not surrounded him and his family and all that he has with Your protection? You have blessed the work of his hands, and his livestock are spread over the land.” Job 1:9-10

Will we be found faithful by the Lord if what happened to Job happened to us? The ancient enemy claimed that Job was only God-fearing because he was blessed with God’s favor, but if it is taken all away, Job would turn away from God. Then all of Job’s oxen were carted away by the Sabeans, all his sheep and shepherds were struck by lightning, all his camels were stolen by the Chaldeans, and the roof fell on all his children! 

Why would God allow hard situations to come into our life? A daughter who needs a kidney transplant. Family members involved in a car accident. A husband who has lost his job. A pandemic sweeping the whole world, killing hundreds of thousands, and destroying the economy of most nations. Why would a loving God allow any of that pain and suffering to touch His children? This is a question that is so difficult to answer, and it has been asked countless times, and caused many a faithful Christian to turn his back on God. 

I am sure the answer is not at all simple. But let us find some answers in the Bible. One, it is a test. In the Epistle of James, we read, “Count it all joy, my brothers, when you meet trials of various kinds, for you know that the testing of your faith produces steadfastness. And let steadfastness have its full effect, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing.” (1:2-4) Just as a teacher finds out what his students have learned through tests, so we ourselves realize our mettle when we pass through various trials. Trials can make or break us, but if we depend and trust in God, we will emerge from it stronger. 

Two, it produces holiness. As Rick Warren said, “God is more interested in your character than your comfort. God is more interested in making your life holy than He is making your life happy.” In 1 Peter 1:6-7, St. Peter tells us that our faith in God is more precious than gold. “In this you rejoice, though now for a little while, if necessary, you have been grieved by various trials, so that the tested genuineness of your faith—more precious than gold that perishes though it is tested by fire—may be found to result in praise and glory and honor at the revelation of Jesus Christ.”

Three, we will get to know our God if we journey with a Him and not fight Him. “Fear not, for I am with you; be not dismayed, for I am your God; I will strengthen you, I will help you, I will uphold you with my righteous right hand. (Isaiah 41:10)

We may not understand what we are going through, Father. But if we trust in You, if we remain grateful and trusting, we will overcome no matter what the future holds. I stand on Your many promises. “And after you have suffered a little while, the God of all grace, who has called you to his eternal glory in Christ, will Himself restore, confirm, strengthen, and establish you.” (1 Peter 5:10)