The Faith Test

Job 1:9-11

Satan answered the LORD, “Does Job fear God for nothing? Haven’t You placed a hedge around him, his household, and everything he owns? You have blessed the work of his hands, and his possessions are spread out in the land, but stretch out Your hand and strike everything he owns, and he will surely curse You to Your face.”

In this passage, we clearly see God’s heart for Job versus Satan’s heart for Job. God had blessed Job and built a hedge of protection around him so the enemy could not destroy him. Satan, however, desired to destroy everything Job had for one reason – to turn him against God.

Satan’s intentions are to steal, to kill, and to destroy. He wants to destroy the work of God in your life to try to convince you to turn against God. If he can make you believe God is unjust or unloving toward you, he can steal your faith. Without faith, it is impossible to please God. We must remember that the Devil is a liar!

Job falsely believed that his blessings were a result of righteous living before God. He was a man of integrity, and he lived his life in reverential fear of God. Being blameless before God, however, did not obligate God to bless him or to protect him from trials. On the contrary, the trials Job faced were allowed to test his faith – a test Satan was sure he would fail. While Job did not understand the reason behind his misfortune, he refused to curse God. Although God corrected his faulty thinking that he somehow deserved to be blessed because of his works, Job ultimately learned that God is sovereign over every situation that occurs in life. He repented and submitted himself firmly to God’s plan.

Things will happen in our lifetime that seem unjust. We will never understand some trials, and God never promised us fairness. In the midst of difficulty, we must learn to ask ourselves whether or not we really trust God. Unless our faith is tested, it cannot be proved genuine. True faith, however, pleases God and sends the Devil running!

Determine to trust God with whatever difficulty you are facing. Believe firmly in His goodness and His love for you because He has promised us that nothing – absolutely nothing – can separate us from His love. Job was tested for a season, but the Devil was not allowed to strike him forever. Job’s faith grew even stronger because of his struggle, and God blessed the latter part of his life even more than the former. God is sovereign over your situation; you need only to submit to His plan and trust He is working on your behalf. Allow your trials to increase your faith and draw you closer to God. In doing so, you will win the battle and destroy the lie the enemy has constructed against you.

Have a blessed day!