Trusting God Like Job – Job 13:15-16

These are the words of Job as he went through unimaginable suffering: his children, wealth, health, friendship were all lost. Even his wife forsook him. How did Job have this kind of trust in God? In our current circumstances that constantly tempt to stir up grief, fear, and anxiety within us, how can we trust God like Job?

Trust is not a matter of emotions, but a matter of will and action. Through Job’s example, we will see that we can trust God by

Job knew God’s nature. Trusting God depends on knowing sound doctrine. Job knew that God is sovereign; God was the source of both his blessings and sufferings. To say that God is sovereign is to say that God is God. (A.W. Pink) Nothing exists apart from Him, and He works all things for His purpose. Understanding the sovereignty of God brings great peace to the believer because we know life and death are in His hands. In light of the current pandemic, we must follow practical wisdom to keep good health, but ultimately, by faith we know that God is in control.

The sovereignty of God may be a dreadful thought if you don’t know that God is good. In the throes of Job’s suffering, he hopes in God because God is good and merciful. In God’s goodness and mercy, He draws us to Himself. He showed mercy at His own expense by sacrificing His only Son to save us, so that He would no longer be our Judge, but our Father. Why do we fail to see God’s goodness?

Job knew God personally and intimately. Job was confident in the Lord. Even though he was in agony, his response was to trust God because he knew God. How can we know God intimately?

You must first distrust yourself.
Jesus commands us to first deny ourselves if we are to follow Him. God allows suffering in our lives to fulfill His good purpose. When we face suffering, how we respond reveals whether we trust Him or trust ourselves.

You must know the Word of God.
We know God through His Word; we trust God by His Word. The Bible is faithful because God faithful, and it is trustworthy because He is trustworthy. It is not simply to know God’s Word, but to love His Word. If you truly love God’s Word, it becomes a necessity in your life.

You must pray.
God’s Word can not be handled without prayer. Prayer is a wonderful privilege of the saints. Even though you’re a sinner, God hears your prayer because His heart is open to His children.

Job knew who he was before God. Job trusted God not just for his physical life, but for eternal life. He depended on God’s salvation. Every true Christian can say with Apostle Paul, “O wretched man that I am!” because he is a sinner who hates sin. We are godly not because we have reached perfection, but because we are saved by God and are being sanctified. Those who know who they are in Christ are able to trust God.

It is possible to trust God like Job because like him, God considers us holy and blameless before Him. (Job 1:8; Eph 1:4) We can faithfully go through this times of crises and adversity not because of our own abilities, but because we are born of God, who will enable us to overcome. In today’s global turmoil, let Job be your example of trusting God in all circumstances.