Yes, you will suffer for a short time. But after that, God will make everything right. He will make you strong. He will support you and keep you from falling. He is the God who gives all grace. He chose you to share in his glory in Christ. That glory will continue forever.
I have recently I been studying the book of Job. The main character, Job, was a wealthy, upstanding man of God. He did everything right but for reasons unknown, God allows Satan to destroy the life Job knew. Without warning, Job’s possessions, children, and livestock are taken from him. Then, painful sores developed over his whole body.
It is plausible to think Job would have every reason to be angry that God chose him to suffer this way. Why him? What did he do wrong? Job’s friends told him he was suffering because he had sinned. His wife, of all people, told him to curse God and die. Wow, as if his suffering was not enough, the condemnation from the people around him was certainly the icing on the cake!
If I were Job I would fear what devastation was up next. I would certainly be hurt by the judgment coming from my support system. Being offended is putting it mildly. Yet, despite the trials Job faced and the hardship he endured, he remained faithful to God.
The truth is we, like Job, are not exempt from trials. However, we have a choice in how we respond. We can allow the fear or hurt to harbor anger or judgment, or we can choose to give the battle to God. Although Job suffered greatly, he chose to rise above all the criticism and pain and to be faithful to God. Instead of listening to the friends who added to his suffering, Job chose to talk to God.
We can learn a lot from Job. God tells us “In this world you will have troubles.” We are going to be hurt by people or situations. But He goes on to tell us “But take heart, I have overcome the world” (John 16:33). We do not have to own the trouble. We do not have to hold onto the hurt. We do not have to punish ourselves for the actions of others. When God said He has overcome, that includes the hurts every single one of us has experienced.
For those who have not read Job, you may be surprised by the ending. I will not spoil it for you, but maybe consider reading it. Like Job, be faithful to God and you may find your ending surprises you too.
