EVEN THOUGH THEY SLAY ME, YET WOULD I TRUST IN HIM
At times life hits us with hardships, sudden losses, disabilities, deferred dreams, lost hope, failure, death, financial hardships, illness and many other sever calamities. During such times is like we fall into a rubble of sorrow, pain, worry, discomfit, bitterness, uncertainty, fear, grief and confusion. These are appropriate times when the enemy’s lies and deceit easily slips into our thoughts. A myriad of questions begins to hunt us, “What have I done to deserve this”, “how long would I bear this pain” and many others. These are times when our questions go unanswered and our prayers do not give us the answers we were looking for. Despite all these problems, we should not shrink back in despair, but we should remain faithful and praise God through. Hebrews 10:38b talks about the Lord not taking pleasure in the soul that shrinks back.
In times trials we must never think that God has forgotten us, because, He promises never to forsake or forget us. God knows and understands the pains and struggles we face. We often assume, “No one really understands what I am going through”. But Jesus understands and empathizes with us. Hebrews 4:15–16 assures us,” We have a faithful High Priest who was tested in all ways like us and is therefore able to empathize and give us the needed help”. God truly cares but we must endure trials because they are necessities every Christian must go through. God uses trials to help us grow and become more like Him. Character is more important in God's eyes than the discomfort and pain we experience in this life. No matter how fierce our trials maybe we must focus more on our spiritual growth and not our comfort. Trials are not times to wallow in pain and tears but a time to strive to get closer to God and grow. God sees a bigger picture of us becoming more like Him.
It is easy to trust in God when things are going well, and we have all what we need. However, it is much harder to trust in God when our future seems uncertain and worry grips our heart. But we must trust in God no matter what we go through. Our trust must not be based on how many blessings God bestows on us. Our trust in God must be based on the fact that, despite what happens, God deserves all the praise. We must trust that God knows what is best for his children and He would take care of us. Trusting in God involves not murmuring and complaining. Remain obedient despite what you lack. Murmuring and complaining was one of the setbacks that prevented the Israelites from passing the tests God put them through. The key to victory in times of trials is trusting in God.
No matter what arrows are thrown at you, no matter what pain you go through, God wants you to remain faithful to his commands and praise Him through. Remain faithful to the end, do not give in to temptations, shortcuts or distractions. Trials and temptations often go hand in hand. The enemy tries hard to make us sin during times of trials. From hindsight life can seem unfair. There are those who do not serve God and yet are prospering. However, there are also others who are genuinely serving God but are experience many challenges. Job noticed this “there were wicked men whose houses are safe from fear, neither is the rod of God upon them. Their bull breeds without failure; their cow calves without miscarriage” Job 21:9–10. Even though it may seem that life is unfair, God is a God of justice. We must avoid comparing ourselves with others and keep in mind that God rewards the faithful.
Our trials will never cause death or destruction they just require faith and patience. God has established the limits of our trial, but we just do not know what those limits are. When we begin reading the book of Job we learn that, while God allowed Satan to afflict Job, He set limits beyond which the devil could not pass. In the long run God would bless your faithfulness during times of trials. “the Lord blessed the latter days of Job more than his beginning” (Job 42:12) After the test there lies promotion, if you remain faithful the Lord would greatly reward you.
During trials people often add pain to our injury with accusation, ridicule, hurtful words and apathy. Some people mistakenly assume that the problems we face are as a result of some grievous sin. For example, Job’s three friends wrongly believed that Jobs problems were as a result of some sin he had committed against God. In times of trials people’s words may hurt or sound accusative like Job’s friends sounded. Regardless of how badly people treat us we must forgive. Notice that God restored Job’s losses when he prayed for his friends who had accused initially. We can compare the trials we face to a mountain climber trying to reach the peak of a mountain. Although he encounters many challenges like dangerous paths, bad weather conditions, wild animals, fallen rocks and the like, determination keeps him going. Despite what we encounter like the mountain climber we should keep on moving. In times of uncertainty and fear we should trust in God has our provider, healer, protection and everything we need.
Our trials can make us either bitter or better. Which will you settle with? In the end our trials would work out for our good, only if we keep on loving God. Romans 8:28 says “And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose.” The verse talks about “all things”, this includes our trials, pains and fears. All these things will work for your good based on the condition that you love God. Keep on loving God despite your struggles and all things would work out for your own good. Trust God in the darkest hours of your life. Praise God through.
