Trusting God Through Trials: Lessons from Job

Devotional

Day 1: Self-Reflection Over Blame

When faced with trials, it's easy to point fingers at God, but the story of Job reminds us that our problems often stem from our own actions and attitudes ([12:45](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=81CTRqLEdA0&t=750s)). Job's self-righteousness, not God, was the root of his problems. This calls for a shift in perspective, urging us to examine ourselves before blaming God.

Proverbs 16:18 - "Pride goes before destruction, a haughty spirit before a fall."

Reflection: What is one area in your life where you might be acting self-righteously? How can you shift your perspective from blaming God to self-reflection?

Day 2: Trials as Opportunities for Growth

Trials and tribulations are not always punishments from God, but can serve as opportunities for growth and strengthening of faith ([24:33](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=81CTRqLEdA0&t=1458s)). Job's suffering was a test of his faith, not a punishment for sin. This challenges us to see our trials as opportunities for spiritual growth.

James 1:2-3 - "Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance."

Reflection: What is one trial you are currently facing? How can you view this as an opportunity for spiritual growth rather than a punishment?

Day 3: Trusting God in the Unknown

In times of uncertainty, trusting in God is crucial, even when we don't have all the answers ([36:12](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=81CTRqLEdA0&t=2157s)). We are encouraged to rely on God's trustworthiness and seek His presence in all circumstances.

Proverbs 3:5-6 - "Trust in the LORD with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways submit to him, and he will make your paths straight."

Reflection: What is one situation in your life where you don't have all the answers? How can you trust God in this situation?

Day 4: God's Ways are Higher

God's ways and thoughts are higher than ours ([48:27](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=81CTRqLEdA0&t=2892s)). We cannot fully comprehend God's plans and purposes, but we can trust in His wisdom and sovereignty.

Isaiah 55:8-9 - "For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways," declares the LORD. "As the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts."

Reflection: How can you remind yourself of God's sovereignty and wisdom when you don't understand His ways?

Day 5: Drawing Closer to God in Trials

Times of trials and tribulations are one of the main ways that God speaks to us and draws us closer to Him ([59:15](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=81CTRqLEdA0&t=3540s)). This encourages us to see difficult times as opportunities to draw closer to God and trust in His faithfulness.

James 4:8 - "Draw near to God, and he will draw near to you. Cleanse your hands, you sinners, and purify your hearts, you double-minded."

Reflection: What is one way you can draw closer to God during your current trials?

Sermon Summary

The sermon begins with the pastor emphasizing the importance of submitting to God's rule and finding safety in His guidance, using the story of Job as an example. The pastor highlights that Job's problems were not caused by God, but rather by Job himself due to his self-righteousness. The pastor encourages the congregation to place their faith in God during difficult situations. The sermon also discusses the reconciliation of Job, warning the congregation to be careful about misrepresenting God when comforting others in difficult times. The pastor concludes this section by highlighting the significance of the sacrifices Job's friends were instructed to make, demonstrating the severity of God's displeasure towards their actions.

The pastor then discusses the misconception that trials and tribulations are always a result of God's punishment for sin. He refers to the story of Job, emphasizing that Job's suffering is not a punishment for sin, but rather a test of his faith. The pastor also notes that Job displays a self-righteous attitude throughout the book, making himself the center of his own universe. This portion of the sermon emphasizes the importance of understanding that trials and tribulations do not always indicate punishment, but can serve as opportunities for growth and strengthening of faith.

The pastor then emphasizes the importance of trusting in God during difficult times, leading the congregation in a prayer, thanking God for His example in Job and for the ability to trust in Him. The pastor asks God to help them trust in Him during difficult times, even when they don't have all the answers or understand why certain things are happening. The pastor encourages the congregation to rely on God's trustworthiness and to seek His presence in all circumstances.

The pastor then discusses the story of Job and how God challenges him to take on the role of God for a day. The pastor explains that God is essentially asking Job to see if he can run the world any better than God can. The pastor emphasizes that God is trying to show Job that what he sees is not the full picture, and that God's ways and thoughts are higher than human ways and thoughts. The pastor concludes by highlighting that everything God does is perfect, and that Job should trust in God during difficult times because God will take care of him.

The sermon concludes with the pastor emphasizing that times of trials and tribulations are one of the main ways that God speaks to us and draws us closer to Him. The pastor uses the example of Job, who experienced immense hardships but remained faithful to God. The pastor encourages the congregation to trust in God and not accuse Him, even when faced with difficult circumstances. The pastor concludes by highlighting that those who fully turn to God in their sorrow will find a pathway closer to His tender mercies and obtain keepsakes of Him to treasure forever, even if they do not have all the answers to their trials.

Key Takeaways

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Sermon Clips

"God will allow hardships in our lives to prove to us that he is all that we need. This is exactly what God did to Job, he broke Job to only build him back up and build him back up better than what he was before." [01:18:04]

"We may go through trials and testings and be without answers. Job never knew the reasoning for the trial that he went through. We must do like Job and trust in God. If it isn't wrong to ask God why things happen, but we do have to be careful if we make accusations to God." [01:18:40]

"Job learned that the source of the problem is not God... God wasn't the reason for it, he was not the problem. Job was the problem." [01:10:14]

"We must place our faith in God in our difficult situations... God was mad at Job's friends for their misrepresentation of God to Job. We have to be careful about how we represent God, how we tell people how God works and acts." [01:11:29]

"God is trying to show Job that what he sees is not the full picture. In Isaiah 55, God says that His thoughts are higher than our thoughts and His ways are higher than our ways. Everything that God does is perfect, even if we may think it is unjust from our limited perspective." [01:05:38]

"If we were in the same place as God and had the ability to do the same things, we would do the same exact thing because what God does is perfect. He sees the entire picture, while we only see a finite view of the universe." [01:06:11]

"Job's friends, known as Job's comforters, enter his life and begin to question him, suggesting that he must have sinned for God to put him through such trials. They imply that there must be some secret sin in his life. This serves as a reminder of how we sometimes jump to conclusions and assume that suffering is a result of personal wrongdoing." [42:11]

"The reason why we go through difficult times is to bring us closer to God and make us rely on Him. It is through these trials that we can grow closer to Him." [50:11]

"God restored his favor as well...job died being old and full of days." (source: [01:15:40])

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