Can We Rely on God in Difficult Times?

Job 13:15 

In his bewilderment, Job stated: “Though He slay me, yet will I trust Him” (Job 13:15a).

Meet Job

Spiritually and financially, Job was the greatest man in the East. (See Job 1:1-2.) But Satan was suspicious of Job’s motives. “So Satan answered the LORD and said, ‘Does Job fear God for nothing? ...But now, stretch out Your hand and touch all that he has, and he will surely curse You to Your face!’ And the LORD said to Satan, ‘Behold, all that he has is in your power; only do not lay a hand on his person’” (Job 1:9-12, fragmented).

If you can answer “Yes” to these three questions, you have the kind of faith that Job had.

1. Can you trust God when you are suffering?

First, Job lost his finances. (See Job 1:13-17.)

Then he lost his family. (See Job 1:18-19.)

But the devil was not finished: “‘Touch his bone and his flesh, and he will surely curse You to Your face!’ And the LORD said to Satan, ‘Behold, he is in your hand, but spare his life’” (Job 2:4-6).

Now Job was covered with boils that wracked his body with pain. (See Job 2:7-8.)

Faith is not receiving from God what you want; faith is accepting from God what He gives. (See Job 1:21.) Job accepted what God gave.

2. Can you trust God when friends forsake you?

Job’s friends’ philosophy was that you only suffer because you have done wrong. (See Job 4:7.) But it isn’t so. Some of God’s choicest saints have suffered. (Read Hebrews 11:32-40.)

Job’s three “friends” did nothing but criticize and give platitudes. “My relatives have failed, and my close friends have forgotten me” (Job 19:14). 

Even Job’s wife did the work of the devil. “‘Do you still hold fast to your integrity? Curse God and die!’ But he said to her, ‘You speak as one of the foolish women speaks. Shall we indeed accept good from God, and shall we not accept adversity?’ In all this Job did not sin with his lips” (Job 2:9b-10). 

3. Can you trust God when you don’t have answers?

You understand that God was allowing Job to be tested. But Job had not read the book of Job. He was in absolute darkness. 

“Oh, that I knew where I might find Him, that I might come to His seat! I would present my case before Him, and fill my mouth with arguments” (Job 23:3-4). Job is saying, “God, you owe me some answers. What is going on?”

God does not tell us “why.” All great Christians have talked about “the dark night of the soul.” Isaiah asked, “Who among you fears the LORD? Who obeys the voice of His Servant? Who walks in darkness and has no light? Let him trust in the name of the LORD and rely upon his God” (Isaiah 50:10; emphasis added).

Conclusion: God Questions Job

God finally spoke, but He did not answer Job’s questions. He taught Job three things:

1. God is sovereign.

God said to Job, “Where were you when I laid the foundations of the earth? Tell Me, if you have understanding” (Job 38:4)

God is saying, “I have a right to do as I wish.” (Read Job 38-41.)

2. God is sufficient.

Through his trouble, Job has gone from mere theology to a relationship with God. (See Job 42:5.) God will be most precious to you when you are suffering. God is not only necessary; God is enough.  

3. God is sympathetic toward His people.

The book ends, “Now the LORD blessed the latter days of Job more than his beginning” (Job 42:12a). God takes pleasure in the prosperity of His servants.

You will have trouble, whether you are a Christian or not. But Christians have the answers in Christ.