How so? We go through varying tests and trials...not necessarily in the same quantity or variety that Job did, but with the same ultimate purposes. We have a choice about how to respond to these tests and trials. We have people around us who have opinions about what the trials mean and what we need to do in the midst of them. We have our own ideas of how we can affect our circumstances for the better...how we think something should go. We sometimes voice our opinions to God, only be humbled by the response. We have the choice to remain faithful to the end.
Sometimes we go through something and never receive any clarity on the purpose of that particular trial...we don't get an immediate answer from The Lord or instructions on how to apply what we may have learned, but the answer could come weeks, months, or even years later. Job called out to The Lord several times (over what could have been a long span of time) before The Lord responded. And His response was not necessarily what Job expected...Job had been pleading his case to The Lord, advocating for his own righteousness and blamelessness. We were told from the outset of Job's story that he was blameless, feared God, stayed away from evil, and had complete integrity...so from our human perspective, Job had every right to remind The Lord of these things. But when God responded, He reminded Job if His sovereignty and providence over all things, since the creation of the world...He didn't condemn Job or talk about how sinful he was, but He reminded Job of His incredible power. Just as Job did not know that his hardships began as a result of Satan's challenge to God, we do not now why our hardships begin...only that The Lord us faithful to strengthen us and herald His glory through them.
God can be trusted. He is our ever-present help. He is our Deliverer. He works for His glory and our good.
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