Sunday March 13, 2022

The faith in the test

However, if I go east, it's not there. If I go west, I don't see it. Is it busy in the north, I do not notice. Is he hiding in the south, I do not see. Nevertheless, he knows which way I have followed. When he has tested me, I will come out pure as gold. Job 23:8-10

Job would like God to explain to him why he suffered such terrible suffering. He looks for it in front of him, behind him, to the right, to the left, but finds him nowhere. Will he sink into despair ? No, even if he sees no way out of his terrible situation, Job keeps his trust in God.

First, he is fully aware that God knows why he is being tried and that he is acting with purpose.

A great evangelist once said : "One of the greatest tests of practical faith is this : Do I really believe in the omniscience of God ?" In our trials, let us never doubt that God knows everything, sees everything, knows everything that happens to us. Let us remember that circumstances are never imposed on God, but follow what his will - often mysterious for us - has decided.

Next, Job knows that God is at the origin of his trials : He is testing me, he says. He considers that the men who intervened in his misfortunes are only instruments in the hands of God, just like the wind which deprived him of his children. Job's spirituality far exceeds ours, or at least mine. It is very difficult when the test comes from one of our relatives, from our best friend, yes, it is difficult to think that God lets the instrument that makes us suffer act.

Finally, Job is certain that if God uses suffering, it is to do him good in the end and to grant him a special blessing. We know that, through these trials, Job acquired a better knowledge of himself and especially of the goodness and wisdom of God. His faith has been cleared of a certain self-satisfaction to be purified to the glory of God.

May God grant us the grace to accept the trials through which he sees fit to put us through ; even if it is difficult to understand, let us be certain that he wants to bless us.

Source (Pleasing the Lord)