If you've ever been to an Independent Baptist Church function, be it a service or an activity of some sort, you will more than likely be able to relate to the following...
It was a teen valentine activity. We'd had some food, we must have played some games, though I really don't remember, and, of course, we had a speaker. I can't say I remember who it was or what he spoke on - blame it on old age or lack of interest - my whole goal in even going to the event was to spend more time with Mike. We'd been dating for just shy of 2 months and I spent every possible moment with him.
What I DO remember about that night was this: just before it was time to leave, the speaker asked everyone to close their eyes and put their heads on the table. And then, he began to ask a series of questions. He used words I didn't understand - like salvation, saved, etc., - and in response to his questions, we were supposed to raise our hands. I didn't have a clue what he was talking about! So...not wanting to be left out...I cheated. I peeked under my arm to see when other people were raising their hands, and I did the same.
So, here's the point: I may have fooled the speaker that night; I may have raised my hand at the appropriate time...I may have fooled anyone else who was "peeking"...but there is one person I didn't fool that night. In fact, I have never "fooled" him - and that is my heavenly Father. God. He sees beyond my raised hand and looks deep into my heart. He knows everything. Every good thing, every bad thing.
Our message this morning was on Job. I've heard lots of messages on Job and most people are familiar with Job's trials. But I heard something this morning I'd not thought of before in quite this way; yes, we know that God allowed Satan to afflict Job. We know how Job responded. But here's the application, the thing I had missed before:
Have I accepted the trials that God has chose for me?
Consider Chapter 1 of Job, where Satan comes to the Lord and claims that Job is only faithful because God has built a hedge of protection around him. And God says, Fine. Do what you want - but don't touch Job himself.
Though Satan is strong, he still needs God's permission to exercise that power!
Of course, we know that Job responded with worship and praise to God, trusting that God is good, even though all these terrible things had happened. He was hurting, but not defeated. He did not give up on God.
So, here's the question: When trials come, will I be strengthen, or defeated? Will I accept that the trials are allowed by God for the purpose of strengthening my faith, for making more like His Son, or will I let those trials defeat me, giving Satan reason to rejoice in his victory and my loss? Will I hold fast to God's Truth, or will I succumb to the lies of the devil?
See, everyone's trials are different - some suffer loss of loved ones, financial hardship, an unfaithful spouse, an unfair character attack, loss of material possessions, etc...but God knows what it takes to bring us closer to Him. God knows us better than we know ourselves. I'm not saying we have to be "happy" during the hard times - but I am saying we can rejoice, knowing God is still Good; God is still in control; God still loves us; God's ways are not our ways - He sees the beginning from the end, while our sight is limited.
You can "cheat" and fool others, but you can't fool God. He sees your heart. Accept the trials he allows in your life - accept them as challenges to strengthen your faith. And be careful how you look at other's trials - God has a path for them, too.
