Suffering Like Job

Have you lost everything important to you? Are trials and suffering weighing you down? Have your blessings run dry? Are you in the pit of despair?

Job’s story is a famous one for those who suffer with serious trials and setbacks. He was an average person, like you and I, and calamity struck his life one day out of the blue. Everything he worked for and was given by God was gone. Job was left confused and anguished. He thought God had forgotten him.

We all face trials of varying degrees throughout our lives. We have prayed desperate prayers for an end to our pain. We have seasons of grief and despair that don’t make sense. Maybe you are in one right now.

We can learn a meaningful lesson from Job. He maintained his trust in the Lord even when he felt like he was living in darkness. The enemy was convinced that if God removed Job’s blessings, he would curse Him. Rather, Job loved God and continued to have faith and serve Him, becoming a more humble and compassionate man during his season of grief. After this season, Job’s blessings were restored.

Like Job, trials can be tests of how deep our faith is, as well as growth opportunities to build the character God wants us to have. Do you just love God when things are going well, or do you praise and trust Him when all your blessings have fallen away? Do you hope in His restoration? Is God calling you to more radical faith in what you are going through?

Consider these questions, and most importantly, don’t give up on God. He got Job through it, and He'll get you through it, and all you have lost will one day be restored.