My Dad led a woman to the Lord at an event that he and I were leading relating to dreams. She had come after attending a dream outreach that I had lead and was so interested in the dream interpretation that she didn’t mind that it was a Christian event. The day after dedicating her life to God she came back and told him about how profound the book of job (as in I have job not Job as a name of a hero in the Bible). The book of Job is many things, but that is the only funny story I have relating to it.
In these times with so many people suffering and losing so much, housing prices are lower than they were 15 years ago in some places. True unemployment is at the highest it has been in my life and even an optimist would say that it is hard to see a positive turn in the near future. We can do many things, pouting is one option “woe is me, it is too hard to bear” anger at the banks and politicians is another option. Some will question their faith and others will find faith through this struggle.
I think that Job is a good role model in this time of strain and stress. He lost his stock portfolio; yes it was livestock but placed into modern times that is more less the same as an IRA or 401K. He lost his wealth, his health and his children, and his friends thought he was in sin and angering God. He was in what some might call his own custom made great depression. His faith did not waiver. He trusted God through the tough, hard and difficult season. Even as he bore what must have been excruciating pain he stayed the course. He didn’t blame others, he did have his moments of doubt but most importantly he praised God. He knew that what he had was God’s in reality and he was grateful in plenty and in poverty.
It is easy to praise God when we are blessed and protected. It is easy to be grateful to God when we have all that we need and the outlook is positive. But in these times when things do appear and are in reality difficult is our chance to show the world what true faith is. When we can show gratitude in times of sacrifice we display a much purer gratitude. When we can trust God as housing prices slump and retirements are put into to question we have the opportunity to show true faith and steadfastness. This season however long it lasts is our time to shine.
I have seen God act in strange ways many times. By strange I mean in ways that didn’t make sense to me. But I know that he has a plan for each of us and in that plan I believe that while finances may not quickly rebound that He will lead us all where we need to be.
Trials do not equal suffering. Suffering is the result of being overwhelmed by our trials.
