ACCEPTING TROUBLES FROM GOD?

Dearly Beloved, ACCEPTING TROUBLES FROM GOD? “Job replied, ‘Don't talk like a fool! If we accept blessings from God, we must accept trouble as well.’ In all that happened, Job never once said anything against God” (Job 2:10 CEV). Sometime ago in the “Spiritual Digest for the Day” – an aspect of my Internet ministry where I send out an inspiring quote with an almost corresponding Bible verse and a prayer/action for the day, I used the above verse. One of my contacts asked me these questions: “Does God bring troubles?” and “Should we accept troubles from God?” These questions will be the bases for my devotional thought this week. To Job in the Bible, God brought his troubles and he was ready to accept them because of his understanding of God. However, since we have the privilege of knowing what happened in the background, we know that God did not bring the troubles of Job. Satan did! Nevertheless, God allowed Satan to do so for a purpose: to prove the righteousness of Job. In theology – the study about God and His relation with man, there is what is called “theodicy” – the goodness and justice of God in spite of evil in the world. The story of Job really illustrates this. God is good and just, but He allows evil by Satan and his cohorts for His divine purposes. Only those that have a shallow idea of God will blame God for the evil in the world. Expectedly, some have even because of the evil in the world declared that God does not exist. On the other hand, only a narrow-minded man like Job’s wife will think that evil will not or cannot happen to righteous people. There are two truths that one should bear in mind. One, since the Fall of Man in Genesis 3, this world is full of evil, but God assures us that the evil will not overcome us. Jesus Christ confirmed this when He told His disciples in John 16:33, “I have told you this, so that you might have peace in your hearts because of me. While you are in the world, you will have to suffer. But cheer up! I have defeated the world” (CEV). See also Deuteronomy 31:6-8; Psalm 23:4; 46:4-7; 91:15; Isaiah 43:1-2; 2 Corinthians 12:9-10. Two, God is working through the evil of the world to bring out the best out of His children. In Paul’s words, “And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose” (Romans 8:28 NIV). The analogy of a raw gold or silver that has to be refined in fire before it becomes valuable is a good example (see Psalm 66:8-12; Zechariah 13:9; Malachi 3:2-4; 1 Peter 1:6-9). Therefore, to answer the two questions posed by that contact, God does not bring troubles, but He allows them and works through them to fulfill His purposes in our lives. Also, we must be ready to pass through any trouble that comes our way with the belief that God will bring us out of it and make us better in Him through the trouble. In His service, Bayo Afolaranmi (Pastor). Prayer Point: Pray that you will be able to accept any trouble and allow God to make stronger in Him through it.