A Tried Faith
Though He slay me, yet will I trust Him. Job 13:15 (nkjv)
We live in a skeptical day. Many looking into the lives of people of faith question their authenticity and even the veracity of the God they claim to trust. Yet it seems that throughout time the sincerity of true believers has been doubted. This was the accusation of Satan against a man named Job in one of the oldest narratives in Scripture. His skepticism encountered Job’s faith. Adversity became a stage in which faith became the most believable to onlookers. Satan’s observation that Job trusted God only because of His blessings to his life proved to be libelous. “Though He slay me, yet I will trust Him” dispelled that accusation.
“Why?” is an honest response for nearly every sufferer. A higher question for the person of faith is “To what end?” The “why” question was asked concerning the man born blind in John 9. Jesus never seemed to give a satisfying answer to that inquiry but He did give His disciples the answer to the “to what end?” question with this phrase: “that the works of God should be revealed in him” (John 9:3, nkjv). One of the “works of God” is a tried, undisputable faith in the midst of struggle.
What is a tried faith? It is confidence in the goodness of God in the midst of circumstances that scream otherwise. It is trust in a God whose ways may be confusing or unwanted. It is compelling evidence that nothing separates us from the love of God.
Since suffering is a common human experience, we will stand shoulder to shoulder with those outside of Christ, many of them skeptics. Seeing a true faith emerge in the midst of our trouble may be the undisputable evidence that will quell the skepticism of doubters. We may share a hospital room with them or group counseling in an adolescent drug facility. We know the depth of each other’s journey. Yet when our faith is displayed, it is noticeable even if fragile. When peace that belies the hour is manifested, others see it. Our confidence in the reality and love of God is undeniable. A skeptic may be softened by the display of unexplained faith in a very unlikely circumstance.
Be willing, my friend, for the works of God to be displayed in your life. A skeptic may be in the audience.
Dear Father, on my trajectory of pain strengthen my faith so even a doubter can see Your reality in my life. Amen.
