4 Lessons for My Trials from a Man Who Knows

Trials come to all of us.

In the midst of a trial we're currently facing, I ran to the book of Job.  If ever anyone faced trials, he did.  Surely I can learn from him.  And I am.

1.  Job 13:15  "Though He slay me, yet will I trust in Him..."  Trust.  God is good, faithful, loving, and just.  Whatever comes into my life is for His glory and my good.

2.  Job 1:21 "...the Lord gave, and the Lord hath taken away; blessed be the name of the Lord."  Praise.  Circumstances change, but He does not.  He is always worthy of our praise.

3.  Job 1:22  "In all this, Job sinned not, nor charged God foolishly."  Live righteously.  Going through a trial doesn't give me an excuse to sin.  I have access to the power of the Holy Spirit and He can give me strength to walk according to God's Word.  

4.  Job 2:10 "What? Shall we receive good at the hand of God and shall we not receive evil?"  Be grateful.  How many of God's blessings have I taken for granted?  I am so very blessed.

When I fail to heed this, I act foolishly.  Notice the end of 1:22, "...nor charged God foolishly."  And in 2:10, addressing his wife who has told him to "curse God and die," Job says, "Thou speakest as one of the foolish women speaketh."

I hope I'm learning.  One afternoon this week, my husband reminded me that this is all part of a bigger plan, to which I replied "I suppose."  He corrected me - and rightly so.  Nothing takes God by surprise; He directs our steps.

I'm clinging to Proverbs 3:5-6, "Trust in the Lord with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding.  In all thy ways acknowledge Him, and He shall direct thy paths."  My understanding would have things going a different direction...but He knows the end from the beginning.