Whom do we place our trust in?  Is it money, jobs, homes, friends, spouses, stocks, bonds, savings accounts, 401Ks, oil, and cattle?

I thought about this last evening and wondered how I would react if I lost everything I owned, and lost all of my family and friends.  How would we all respond to losing all of our children, grandchildren, spouses and friends and every last material possession we ever had, including the losing of our health in the midst of such trials.  What would you say if so-called friends accused you of having done wrong, or surely these terrible misfortunes would not have happened to you?  In the midst of these devastating trials, would your anchor be placed in your possessions, family and friends, or would your faith still be in God?

This happened to a man in God’s Word and his name was Job.  Before we think this could never happen to us, it is not out of the realm of possibility it could.  When each of these trials befell Job, do you know what his response was?

“Then Job arose, and rent his mantle, and shaved his head, and fell down upon the ground, and worshipped, And said, Naked came I out of my mother’s womb, and naked shall I return thither:  the Lord gave, and the Lord hath taken away:  blessed be the name of the Lord.  In all this Job sinned not, nor charged God foolishly.”    Job 1:20-22

Would we be able to do the same, or be as Job’s wife?

“Then said his wife unto him, Dost thou still retain thine integrity?  Curse God, and die.  But he said unto her, Thou speakest as one of the foolish women speaketh.  What?  Shall we receive good at the hand of God, and shall we not receive evil?  In all this did not Job sin with his lips.”    Job 2:9-10

Could we do the same?

In the first verse of Job we find the character of Job.

“There was a man in the land of Uz, whose name was Job and that man was perfect and upright, and one that feared God, and eschewed evil.”    Job 1:1

Bad things happen to good people, and when the trial comes or in Job’s instance, trials, would our anchor hold in Him or would those attachments be so important we would blame and accuse God for the tribulations which befell us, maybe to not this extent, but tribulations nonetheless?

“These things I have spoken unto you, that in me ye might have peace.  In the world ye shall have tribulation:  but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world.”   John 16:33

The trials, tribulations, sorrows, and losses will come to us at some time in life, but for the faithful child of God, He is there with us.

“But Thou, O Lord, art a shield for me; my glory, and the lifter up of mine head.”    Psalms 3:3

“Nay, in all these things we are more than conquerors through Him that loved us.”     Romans 8:37

“Let your conversation be without covetousness; and be content with such things as ye have:  for He hath said, I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee.”   Hebrews 13:5

“Let not your heart be troubled:  ye believe in God, believe also in Me.  In my Father’s house are many mansions:  if it were not so, I would have told you.  I go to prepare a place for you.  And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and receive you unto Myself; that where I Am, there ye may be also.”    John 14:1-3

Many seem to believe Christians do not have troubles, but they do, the difference being the preceding verses.  Faithful children of God, though they have the same trials and tribulations just as the world, they still walk in hope, confidence and faith in Him, that no matter what befalls their lives, they can walk in assurance He is there with them.  Christians are joyful people, or should be because the Anchor to which they hold is Him, and they can withstand whatever comes their way.

“The storm may roar without me, My heart may low be laid, But God is round about me, And can I be dismayed?”      ~ Anna Waring – 1850

You too can have that assurance by becoming a New Testament Christian and receiving all of the spiritual blessings He gives when one is obedient to Him.

“And unto man He said, Behold, the fear of the Lord, that is wisdom; and to depart from evil is understanding.”    Job 28:28

“Though poor in this world’s goods, though grieving the loss of loved ones, though suffering pain of body, though harassed by sin and Satan, though hated and persecuted by worldlings, whatever be the case and lot of the Christian, it is both his privilege and duty to rejoice in the Lord.”        ~ A. W. Pink

Eileen Light