A Tested Faith

“But now, stretch out Your hand and touch all that he has, and he will surely curse You to Your face!” Job 1:11

 Let’s be honest. Sometimes we just feel like Job. Our trials seem so severe, our losses so grievous, the words of our loved ones so painful, that we fear we must have somehow been put on God’s naughty list.

Haven’t we repented of our sins and received His forgiveness? Haven’t we trusted in Him? Haven’t we given our lives to serving Him? Haven’t we lived in love and grace toward others? Haven’t we testified of His greatness?

Author Randy Alcorn has said, “If you base your faith on lack of affliction, your faith lives on the brink of extinction and will fall apart because of a frightening diagnosis or a shattering phone call. Token faith will not survive suffering, nor should it.”

Token faith. Just a bit of faith. Not enough to make me a fanatic. Not enough to be accused of being so heavenly minded that I am no earthly good. Not enough to be called “religious” or “spiritual.” Just enough faith to get me to church on Sundays, to sing the songs, to give an offering, to say grace before meals (except in a restaurant.)

Token faith believes God… except maybe not in this circumstance. Token faith worships on Sunday… but not the other six days of the week. Token faith reads the Bible at church… but not daily, not at home. Token faith does not move mountains, walk on water, cast out demons, heal the sick, or preach deliverance to the captives.

Pastor and author Adrian Rogers said, “A faith that can’t be tested is a faith that can’t be trusted.” When Jesus and His disciples were in the boat on the stormy waters that crashed over their little vessel, threatening to swamp and sink them, what was the purpose? What was the lesson? Yes, that they should have trusted Him more. But He also wanted them to know FOR THEMSELVES whether they believed what they claimed to believe.

This was true for Job, too. He believed in God. He was blameless and shunned evil (Job 1:8). But his faith hadn’t been tested until Satan threw every flaming arrow at him that he could devise (with God’s permission, of course). When the end of the afflictions had come, Job said, “I have heard of You by the hearing of the ear, but now my eye sees You” (Job 42:5). Notice that he said this BEFORE God restored his losses. He said it when he realized once and for all that God is sovereign, and he repented of presuming what would be considered “fair and just” treatment.

Lord, forgive me for presuming that You owe me a life of ease. Go ahead and try my faith, and thereby strengthen me. Show me the truth about myself, that I may repent. As Job said, “I know that You can do everything, and that no purpose of Yours can be withheld from You.” You have Your reasons for all that You plan or permit. So be it. Amen.