Job 1:20–22 (ESV): “Then Job arose and tore his robe and shaved his head and fell on the ground and worshiped. And he said, “Naked I came from my mother’s womb, and naked shall I return. The Lord gave, and the Lord has taken away; blessed be the name of the Lord.” In all this Job did not sin or charge God with wrong.”
The question, “Why does God allow good people to suffer?” has been asked throughout history. One reason is to test the faith of humanity. How else can we truly know what we believe without some kind of testing?
Job was a blameless and upright man who feared God and turned away from evil. He wasn’t perfect, but he aimed to please God. The Lord allowed Satan to test Job as a means of proving that his faith was genuine. Job’s possessions were taken from him, and all his servants and children died. Yet Job’s response was, “The Lord gave, and the Lord has taken away; blessed be the name of the Lord.” Despite everything, he did not sin or accuse God of wrongdoing.
How do you respond to negative circumstances? Do you get angry at God for allowing adversity in your life? The Lord permits hardship to test and prove our faith. As James writes in James 1:2–3 (ESV): “Count it all joy, my brothers, when you meet trials of various kinds, for you know that the testing of your faith produces steadfastness.” God is at work in the trials of your life to test your faith and show you what you truly believe. Do not despise trials, for they are profitable. Trust God and endure hardship. Amen.
Father, we thank You that our lives are in Your hands. Strengthen us to endure the trials You allow in our lives. Let us never doubt Your goodness in the midst of our struggles but remain steadfast as Job was. Fill us with Your Spirit and prepare us for whatever lies ahead. In Jesus’ name, we pray, amen.
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