Growing deeper in faith in the midst of trials
I know that you can do anything, and no one can stop you. You asked, ‘Who is this that questions my wisdom with such ignorance?’ It is I—and I was talking about things I knew nothing about, things far too wonderful for me. You said, ‘Listen and I will speak! I have some questions for you, and you must answer them.’ I had only heard about you before, but now I have seen you with my own eyes. I take back everything I said, and I sit in dust and ashes to show my repentance. Job 42:2-6 Job was described as an upright and righteous man (Job 1:1). However, regardless of his fear for God and desire to obey God in His commands, it seemed that he had not fully come to know God. From the text, He expressed his repentance for he questioned God’s ways and His wisdom. He had not known much about the character of God until he went through times of difficulties. God had to reveal to him that He is the God who created everything, grander and higher than any mortal could imagine. It was only when he went through adversities that he would come to understand who God is. Only then he realized that God can do all things. He also realized that God’s plan cannot be thwarted by any man’s actions. This was also the lesson King Nebuchadnezzar realized after he had Daniel and his friends placed in the burning furnace and were rescued by God. “All the people of the earth are nothing compared to him. He does as he pleases among the angels of heaven and among the people of the earth. No one can stop him or say to him, ‘What do you mean by doing these things?’” (Daniel 4:35). Job’s honest admission in v. 3 when he said, “I knew nothing about” indict us all for at times we have the same tendency as Job had presuming that our way is better over God’s will. The trials that he went through made him conclude that God was infinitely wiser than him. In the midst of his testing, Job experienced the mocking and scoffing from his friends and even from his wife. During those moments, he learned that God is the only One that he can be dependent upon. He realized that God alone was trustworthy. Job declared that now he could say in the midst of his sufferings, he had seen God (v. 5). Just like Isaiah (Isaiah 6:5) when he was in the presence of the Almighty God, Job saw his own sinfulness and out of his contrite heart expressed his repentance. After he honestly expressed to God his doubts and questions, he experienced transformation and deepened his knowledge of God. Always anticipate that God is at work even in the midst of your trials. The Lord will reveal His character and His ways to you beyond your imagination. In those moments, like Job, His strong and comforting presence will be with you. Even when it seemed that others are scoffing at your faith and it seemed that everyone else had abandoned you, always remember that God is with you. It is during your dark moments that God becomes more visible. It is during times of trials that you grow in your knowledge of Him and the desire to live your life obeying Him. Christ Himself learned obedience through sufferings. “Even though Jesus was God’s Son, he learned obedience from the things he suffered” (Hebrews 5:8).
Blessings,
Noel De Guzman
www.my-wbc.com
Latest sermon upload: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VphDGEE0XCw
