Trust In God's Faithfulness in Times Of Testing

Bienhome Muivah *

While Job's tenacious trust in God's faithfulness in puzzling to many, to some of us it is a challenge. His statement, "Though he slay me, yet will I hope in Him" (Job 13:15), covers a long trek down fear's path. Job had already lost his possessions and his children when Satan shot his final flaming arrows, strapping him of his health.

Job's wife then turned on him and cruelly slashed at him, "Are you still holding on to your integrity? Curse God and die!" Job retorted, "You are talking like a foolish woman. Shall we accept good from God, and not trouble?'' Job 2:9-10. His reply revealed his unwavering focus on God's faithfulness which kept him from apostasy. He did, however, do a lion's share of complaining, for which he was aptly rebuked.

Job believed in God's faithfulness because he knew that God was trustworthy. Even if God never delivered him from all his woes, Job knew that he could trust God's wisdom, love, and will. This trust in God protected Job against such foes as depression (Job 3), bitterness (Job 7), and fear (Job 13:21).

Job's consolation in time of unrelenting pain and confusion was that he had not denied the words of the Holy one (Job 6:16). He looked beyond the present agony to his future bliss in the resurrection (Job 19: 25-26).

Trust God's faithfulness in times of terror

The power of natural phenomena - a hurricane that leaves a path of destruction through many countries, at this time we need to remember that God is still the Master of nature, the Mighty God, the Prince of Peace, the Ruler from sea to sea, the Sovereign Supreme Being, the Head of the Church, the King of Kings and Lord of Lords.

His care for us is as constant as the rolling tide. Our fears matter to Him. Once we understand that He cares and maintains complete control and has limitless ability to meet our every need, we can relax, and our fears which is controlling us will evaporate like hot steam rising into the air.

God (Jesus) was on the sea of Galilee that frightful night when the disciples went through the workshop on faith and fear. Their learning lab out in the midst of a stormy sea not only exposed the depth of their terror but also the shallowness of their faith. They did not do as well as Job did in the course but the experience added a little more to their trust in God's faithfulness.

Jesus knew that they would have to go through far greater terrors than a raging sea: "You must be on your guard. You will be handed over to the local councils and flogged in the synagogues. All men will hate you because of me, but he who stands firm to the end will be saved" (Mark 13:9,13). They had to begin to build their absolute trust in God's faithfulness, regardless of how awful or fearful the circumstances.

Although our voyage through life may never take us into enemy territory in a foreign land, or place us in the disciples' boat, each of us will have our date with personal terror. Our knee-jerk reaction is often the same as the disciples in the storm: panic! But if we listen closely, we will hear the Holy Spirit of God whisper, "You of little faith, why are you so afraid? He will tell us to be still, to rest and trust in His faithful care.

Trust God's faithfulness during political upheaval

Alarms trumpeted by various news media of political changes also invoke fear in our minds and hearts. Media speculation about retirement benefits being frozen, taxes being raised, health care undergoing a major overhaul, and news of outrages against human rights, military coups overtaking a nation, and wars and rumors of wars cause us to ask, "Does God know what's going on? Does he care? When we rejoice to see Russia open her arms to Christian values, invite people to teach the Bible, and encourage greater freedoms, we are increasingly being denied these privileges in many countries: less freedom, decaying moral values, an ongoing holocaust against the unborn child, unbridled sexual perversity.

Even as we anticipated the "golden years", the cold-blooded term "euthanasia" causes a shiver of fear to shoot through our veins. Loss of control over moral standards which we believe God's Word teaches and generates a sense of pandemonium, accompanied by fear.

Many other religious leaders are sounding the alarm that we are rapidly approaching the kind of One-World government that will herald in the rise to power of the Anti-Christ, as prophesized in the scripture. These fearful changes in the political Status Quo should act as warnings to us not to panic but to take advantage of another opportunity to increase our faith in God's faithfulness.

As much as it is in our power, we should, of course, do what we can to halt anything that threatens our country or our families by voicing our concern through voting. But worry and fear cannot impact the reality of changing society. One author refers to worry as a rocking chair: it gives us something to do but doesn't get us anywhere. The only hope that will change the world is the One who changes men's hearts-Jesus Christ.

The psalmist said, "It is God who judges: He brings one down, He exalts another" (Psalm 75:7). God's faithfulness stands independent of the outcome of life's any fearful situation.

Happy Sunday!