The Trials of the Christian

The trials of a Christian

Job's trial seems to be difficult to understand for many, mainly because it seems unfair to us. There was no reason why Job should be suffering, and understandably so; this thinking comes from the idea that we suffer when we do bad things and enjoy life when we do good things. This is a concept that rules the Christian world today.

For the Christian world, mainly within Catholicism, the idea reigns that if you lived a good life as a Christian, then your reward is to go and enjoy heaven the very instant your life is over. On the other hand, if you led a bad life, then your punishment is to instantly start paying your debt in hell. This implies that everyone, both God and Jesus, good and bad angels, are working together for the same purpose: God through the good angels to reward the good and God through the bad angels to punish the bad. Every thoughtful Christian at some point asks the question: If the demons are punishing the guilty, then are they doing a righteous deed?

The Bible nowhere says that good men will live happily and bad men will suffer on this earth. On the contrary, we are warned against the frustration of seeing evil men prospering, and concerning those who seek to overcome the world we are told::

In the world you will have tribulation; but be of good cheer, I have overcome the world.” John 16:33

Good things and bad things will happen to everyone. In regard to riches is even more complex, especially for the father of a family, because they come with a factory setting that tells them that they are the providers of their family, and in most cases they will not bear to see one of their own family in need.

Let us study the case of Job and see what Satan was trying to achieve behind the sufferings he brought upon him:

The aim of the great rebel has ever been to justify himself and to prove the divine government responsible for the rebellion. To this end he has bent all the power of his giant intellect. He has worked deliberately and systematically, and with marvelous success, leading vast multitudes to accept his version of the great controversy which has been so long in progress. For thousands of years this chief of conspiracy has palmed off falsehood for truth. {GC 670.1}

Satan seeks to defend himself by putting the blame of wrongdoing on others, specifically, the government of God. And we see that he succeeded from the very beginning, for that very thing Adam declared when he met God

After Adam and Eve had eaten of the forbidden fruit, they were filled with a sense of shame and terror. At first their only thought was how to excuse their sin and escape the dreaded sentence of death. When the Lord inquired concerning their sin, Adam replied, laying the guilt partly upon God and partly upon his companion: “The woman whom Thou gavest to be with me, she gave me of the tree, and I did eat.” The woman put the blame upon the serpent, saying, “The serpent beguiled me, and I did eat.” Genesis 3:12, 13. Why did You make the serpent? Why did You suffer him to come into Eden? These were the questions implied in her excuse for her sin, thus charging God with the responsibility of their fall. The spirit of self-justification originated in the father of lies and has been exhibited by all the sons and daughters of Adam. Confessions of this order are not inspired by the divine Spirit and will not be acceptable to God {SC 40.2}

Self-justification, blaming God as responsible. These two steps Lucifer planned for the fall of mankind, perfectly executed in the fall of Adam and Eve. Since then it was implanted in the mind of the human being that all guilty must die, and that seed that proposed that Christ as creator of the human race had arranged everything so that humanity would eventually fall, grew, developed and bore its fruit at the very moment that Christ dies on the cross. Delivered into the hands of the human race, he is falsely accused, condemned and executed under the most shameful and humiliating death available to them. We see that the principle that all sin needs punishment was also planned by the deceiver.

In the opening of the great controversy, Satan had declared that the law of God could not be obeyed, that justice was inconsistent with mercy, and that, should the law be broken, it would be impossible for the sinner to be pardoned. Every sin must meet its punishment, urged Satan; and if God should remit the punishment of sin, He would not be a God of truth and justice. {DA 761.4}

The condemning power of Satan would lead him to institute a theory of justice inconsistent with mercy. He claims to be officiating as the voice and power of God, claims that his decisions are justice, are pure and without fault. Thus he takes his position on the judgment seat and declares that his counsels are infallible. Here his merciless justice comes in, a counterfeit of justice, abhorrent to God. {CTr 11.4}

The logic is that, if every sin must be punished, then every good deed must be rewarded. This leads us to fabricate our own works in order to obtain salvation. We behave well because then we know we can claim heaven, when heaven is a gift, and destruction is a choice. Through this false system of justice Satan exhausts and empties human beings of hope so that they feel frustrated and empty when things go wrong. But if we go to Scripture, we will find that real life is different:

For I was envious of the boastful,

When I saw the prosperity of the wicked.

For there are no pangs in their death,

But their strength is firm.

They are not in trouble as other men,

Nor are they plagued like other men.

Therefore pride serves as their necklace;

Violence covers them like a garment.

Their eyes bulge with abundance;

They have more than heart could wish.

They scoff and speak wickedly concerning oppression;

They speak loftily.

They set their mouth against the heavens,

And their tongue walks through the earth.

Psalm 73:3-9

 

Concerning the righteous, the psalmist is quite clear

Oh, bless our God, you peoples!

And make the voice of His praise to be heard,

Who keeps our soul among the living,

And does not allow our feet to be moved.

For You, O God, have tested us;

You have refined us as silver is refined.

You brought us into the net;

You laid affliction on our backs.

You have caused men to ride over our heads;

We went through fire and through water;

But You brought us out to rich fulfillment.

Psalm 66:8-12

And in fact, being tried is the way, perhaps the only way we can understand a little more of what God wants to teach us. We need it because of the hardness of our hearts and because we are slow of hearing.

My brethren, count it all joy when you fall into various trials, knowing that the testing of your faith produces patience. James 1:2-3

God would be so glad to see that we are completely willing to listen to His voice. If He simply said to us "This is the way, walk in it" and we kept those words in our hearts and consequently acted accordingly, surely the story of redemption would have lasted much shorter and things would have been very different. But we are not able to do that in most cases. We need the mediator to come and tell us what steps to take. We need the one who comes with the spirit of Christ to show us what is best for us.

When we are being tested it is because Satan has a reason why he is pointing us out and saying to Christ "Look, his garments are stained, I have the authority to claim him. You will see how he insults you to your own face" and that is exactly what he tried to do with Job.

The question we ask ourselves is, what did he have against Job? He was a blameless man, feared God and set apart from evil. Apparently there was no breach through which the enemy could enter. There was no reason for him to be suffering. But Job's case leaves us with some lessons that we will discover.

The breach

We understand as the breach that principle by which we depart from the law of God, we make a breach in the protective wall and the enemy has a place to pass through. We know that the breach can be closed by an intercessor until the victim can be reconciled to God again. This was exactly what Job needed.

“Man is also chastened with pain on his bed,

And with strong pain in many of his bones,

So that his life abhors bread,

And his soul succulent food.

His flesh wastes away from sight,

And his bones stick out which once were not seen.

Yes, his soul draws near the Pit,

And his life to the executioners.

 

“If there is a messenger for him,

A mediator, one among a thousand,

To show man His uprightness,

Then He is gracious to him, and says,

‘Deliver him from going down to the Pit;

I have found a ransom’;

His flesh shall be young like a child’s,

He shall return to the days of his youth.

He shall pray to God, and He will delight in him,

He shall see His face with joy,

For He restores to man His righteousness.

Then he looks at men and says,

‘I have sinned, and perverted what was right,

And it did not profit me.’

He will redeem his soul from going down to the Pit,

And his life shall see the light.

 

“Behold, God works all these things,

Twice, in fact, three times with a man,

To bring back his soul from the Pit,

That he may be enlightened with the light of life.

Job 33:19-30

How Job comes to make a breach when there was none has a very simple explanation. Our misconceptions about God's character come to light whenever we are tested. In Job we see that this process is instantaneous, just as it is in all of us. There was no reason for the enemy to have access to Job, he was a perfect man, he was in line with God's law. He was even an intercessor for his children (Job 1:5).

When he was delivered into the hands of the enemy, the first thing that manifests itself is his misconception about God, that all this destruction came from his hand. In the first instance we have the testimony of the messenger:

While he was still speaking, another also came and said, “The fire of God fell from heaven and burned up the sheep and the servants, and consumed them; and I alone have escaped to tell you!” Job 1:16

Of course, in the face of such a sequence of misfortunes, the first thing one asks oneself is "what have I done?". Job had the possibility to prostrate himself in prayer and ask God to show him what he had done wrong. Even if his concept of good deed = reward and bad deed = punishment was at work, he might well have knelt down and asked God what did I do to bring all this evil upon me?

But when his friends put to him the idea that he must have done something to bring all this evil upon him, he ironically replies:

“Teach me, and I will hold my tongue; cause me to understand wherein I have erred. Job 6:24

And at the very moment that he receives the news of the great losses, he declares with full assurance.

Then Job arose, tore his robe, and shaved his head; and he fell to the ground and worshiped. And he said: “Naked I came from my mother’s womb, and naked shall I return there. The Lord gave, and the Lord has taken away; blessed be the name of the Lord.”  In all this Job did not sin nor charge God with wrong. Job 1:20-22

And again after he had lost his health

Then his wife said to him, “Do you still hold fast to your integrity? Curse God and die!” But he said to her, “You speak as one of the foolish women speaks. Shall we indeed accept good from God, and shall we not accept adversity?” In all this Job did not sin with his lips. Job 2:9-10

The test brings to the surface any misconceptions we have about God. In Job's case it brings out mainly two things: 1) Self-justification, the fact that he considered himself righteous enough not to deserve to suffer any evil and 2) Considering that God was the one who took away. Although Job did not charge God with wrong and does not blaspheme or insult him, and even has a very good answer to his wife who wanted to urge him to sin against God, two things are revealed, those two things that Satan formulated from the beginning: Self-justification and putting the blame for what happened on God.

We can live our whole life thinking that curses come from God and still be saved. We can live like Job, and have our life's motto be "The Lord gave, and the Lord has taken away; blessed be the name of the Lord". Such a statement helps us to cope with a life of afflictions considering that we do not really understand what goes on in the background of the spiritual realm, that we have no idea what goes on in the mind of God, but yet we are in submission to his will and understand that he is wiser than we are and that his ways are higher than ours. But we live in a time where we have enough tools to understand what is happening in the background.

In Job we have an extreme case. None of us expect to lose all our wealth, our house, 10 children and our spouse (because she gave up her faith) in a single day. In Job we have what in the sight of men is the most unfair case possible, and this tests us. To read the story of Job is to place a megaphone in front of our mouths that amplifies what we think about God. What we express about God's character is key to understanding what process we need from here on out to know God more and reveals something of our spiritual condition. Job did not charge God with wrong, but the vast majority of those who read Job's story do.

The Christian's refinement

And it shall come to pass in all the land,”

Says the Lord,

“That two-thirds in it shall be cut off and die,

But one-third shall be left in it:

I will bring the one-third through the fire,

Will refine them as silver is refined,

And test them as gold is tested.

They will call on My name,

And I will answer them.

I will say, ‘This is My people’;

And each one will say, ‘The Lord is my God.’

 Zechariah 13:8-9

 

Suppose I am a person who trusts fully in God's protection. For eight years I have been making the same 6-block commute to my place of work. I leave my home every day at 7:30 am and return the same way every day at 4:30 pm. I have never felt so safe on my way to work and I have the complete assurance that God goes with me every day. After eight years, one day I am mugged and robbed of my paycheck for the month I just got paid.

"God, why weren't you with me?"

Surely that will be my first reaction. Lord, I always trusted you, you always took care of me, why didn't you do it today? But the Bible has a promise

...and lo, I am with you always, even unto the end of the world. Matthew 28:20

But, He promised that He would be with me every day until the end of the world.

• I have the choice to blame God and declare that he took his protection from me or that he delivered me to the enemy.
• I have the choice to say that the text of Matthew 28:20 does not mean that He will actually be with us until the end of the world.
• I have the option to understand that that was the beginning of a trial from which I must learn something....

Assuming that thanks to God's wisdom I can choose the third option, do I have any text in the Scripture that helps me to confirm this?

And we know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are the called according to His purpose.. Romans 8:28

We can have a different perspective on life if we know that if we love God, all things work together for good and everything has a purpose from which we can learn, but in the first instance we must be of those who love God, and for that we need to not be pointing our finger at everything in which we think He is wrong.

This is how we are tested, and life may be full of these trials, but as we adopt an attitude of willingness to be transformed, to grasp His arm and insist on His promises, as we prove to ourselves that we are willing to abandon any wrong character traits in order to better represent Christ, the outlook on things will be different. Satan will no longer be able to tempt us to sin with many kinds of trials because he will see that they no longer have any effect on us.

Satan is exultant when he can lead the children of God into unbelief and despondency. He delights to see us mistrusting God, doubting His willingness and power to save us. He loves to have us feel that the Lord will do us harm by His providences. It is the work of Satan to represent the Lord as lacking in compassion and pity. He misstates the truth in regard to Him. He fills the imagination with false ideas concerning God; and instead of dwelling upon the truth in regard to our heavenly Father, we too often fix our minds upon the misrepresentations of Satan and dishonor God by distrusting Him and murmuring against Him. Satan ever seeks to make the religious life one of gloom. He desires it to appear toilsome and difficult; and when the Christian presents in his own life this view of religion, he is, through his unbelief, seconding the falsehood of Satan. {SC 116.2}

Satan tempts us, for example, in our dealings with other people. He is constantly tempting us to mistreat others when they do not behave well toward us, and every time we get angry with someone we blame that person and God. We accuse our neighbor of not being cooperative with us and we get angry that God has put such a worthless person in front of us. Then we understand the character of Christ, we understand his dealings with others and he puts empathy in our hearts.

The enemy had us completely dominated, grumpy, angry and separated from God simply because we crossed paths with people who were inconvenient for us to cross paths with, but once we understand the character of Christ, that behavior is completely erased from our character. Now the enemy can no longer bring us down through the kind of people we meet. He can no longer tempt us that way. Now he needs a new strategy.

In formulating a new strategy, he will touch another area of our character, a different test, but at the same time a different opportunity for God to work. Each test is an opportunity for the enemy to control us, but he tests us knowing the risk that we will succeed in that area. Each test is stronger, more intense, he cannot give up on us. To the last he will want us to blaspheme against God in his very presence, but delivered into the arms of Christ, every trial will become a triumph. He does not wish to stop, he hopes that at some point he may snatch us away from the love of God, but no one can snatch us away. If we preserve a humble character, a desire to change, if we do not abandon constant prayer, if we advance firmly knowing that the end of the trial is always victory, the only possible result is to approach God from victory to victory and from glory to glory, and every affliction will be transformed into triumph.

But we all, with unveiled face, beholding as in a mirror the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from glory to glory, just as by the Spirit of the Lord. 2 Corinthians 3:18

Why Satan had power over Job

Then he showed me Joshua the high priest standing before the Angel of the Lord, and Satan standing at his right hand to oppose him. And the Lord said to Satan, “The Lord rebuke you, Satan! The Lord who has chosen Jerusalem rebuke you! Is this not a brand plucked from the fire?” Now Joshua was clothed with filthy garments, and was standing before the Angel. Then He answered and spoke to those who stood before Him, saying, “Take away the filthy garments from him.” And to him He said, “See, I have removed your iniquity from you, and I will clothe you with rich robes.” And I said, “Let them put a clean turban on his head.” So they put a clean turban on his head, and they put the clothes on him. And the Angel of the Lord stood by. Zechariah 3:1-5

Satan at a man's right hand is a rather ugly concept, but it happens. He is at his side to accuse him. When he accuses you, he is usually right. In this case, Joshua was clothed in filthy garments and Satan's accusation was true. This is why we are urged not to judge our brothers even if we are right, because we are doing the same work of the accuser. The one who can resolve this situation is precisely the intercessor, the advocate who intercedes for the accused.

For He shall stand at the right hand of the poor, to save him from those who condemn him. Psalm 109:31

And in this quotation we are shown how his work of claiming power over men works

He [Satan] leads men into skepticism, causing them to lose confidence in God and to separate from His love; he tempts them to break His law, and then he claims them as his captives and contests the right of Christ to take them from him. He knows that those who seek God earnestly for pardon and grace will obtain it; therefore he presents their sins before them to discourage them. He is constantly seeking occasion against those who are trying to obey God. Even their best and most acceptable services he seeks to make appear corrupt. By countless devices, the most subtle and the most cruel, he endeavors to secure their condemnation. {CCh 351.1}

You felt identified, and it is not a question, it is an affirmation. You earnestly sought God for forgiveness and peace, you sought to obey God. You gave your best and most acceptable service, you gave yourself completely, and what you got in return was that you were reminded of your sins. Someone came and pointed at you to see the stain on your garment. You felt accused and considered your service corrupt and worthless. You heard condemnation, whether it came from outside or was formulated within your mind. That is the voice of the enemy. As a consequence, you doubted, lost confidence in God and the desire to draw near to him. You separated yourself from His love and were dominated by the desire to violate his law, to do what is contrary to his character and to remain in that which will keep you away from him. An important doubt has been planted in your mind about the character of God.

All these symbols mean that you are in the process of trial. The enemy is targeting you and claiming you as his captive. This was the case with Job, and there was not necessarily a breach in your life, but you were delivered into the hands of the enemy and this is an excellent opportunity. We can, in conjunction with the work of the spirit, the company of angels and the forces of Christ, demonstrate to the universe what forgiveness, sanctification, perfecting consists of and verify that in a body burdened with 6000 years of corruption and evil, you can keep God's law and declare that He is good, forgiving, patient. That He desires to perfect us and write his law in our hearts. That we can trust him and that the time of trial is limited. That it will soon come to an end, and whatever doubt has been planted in our mind will soon be removed from there forever. This is a joint work where the character of God triumphs before the universe, man has been transformed into the image of God to a more perfect figure, and the enemy has been defeated and proven a liar once again. We are co-workers with God.

And the best of all is what happens once we are transformed: we are able to accompany so many others in the same process. We were alone perhaps, we had to learn a hard lesson without the company of anyone, or at best with the constant intercession of another at our side. But now, with joy, we can bring to others the message that the situation in which they find themselves has a way out, and testimony will be the most powerful method to bring certain victory and rest to the suffering.

There is need of coming close to the people by personal effort. If less time were given to sermonizing, and more time were spent in personal ministry, greater results would be seen. The poor are to be relieved, the sick cared for, the sorrowing and the bereaved comforted, the ignorant instructed, the inexperienced counseled. We are to weep with those that weep, and rejoice with those that rejoice. Accompanied by the power of persuasion, the power of prayer, the power of the love of God, this work will not, cannot, be without fruit. {MH 143.4}

Prayer and intercession

Let us pray, not only for ourselves, but for those who have hurt us, and are continuing to hurt us. Pray, pray, especially in your mind. Give not the Lord rest; for His ears are open to hear sincere, importunate prayers, when the soul is humbled before Him.—(The S.D.A. Bible Commentary 3:1141.) {Pr 244.1}

There is a factor of insistence in prayer. Why?

When self dies, there will be awakened an intense desire for the salvation of others,—a desire which will lead to persevering efforts to do good. There will be a sowing beside all waters; and earnest supplication, importunate prayers, will enter heaven in behalf of perishing souls.—(Gospel Workers, 470). {Pr 246.1}

This factor of insistence is aroused when self dies, and when our chief concern is not ourselves but others. There is a story that helps us to understand a little better the need for constant and permanent prayer. And no, it is not that God needs to hear our prayers repeatedly in order to grant us what we need. It is not that one of the requirements is to pray 17 times for everything and that through that sacrifice God can say "Well, if you sacrificed so much of your time I will give it to you". It has to do with something else

Christ had been speaking of the period just before His second coming, and of the perils through which His followers must pass. With special reference to that time He related the parable “to this end, that men ought always to pray, and not to faint.” {COL 164.1}

As a first clue, we know that the purpose of all that is that we may pray always and not faint, that is, not give up prayer.

“There was in a city,” He said, “a judge, which feared not God, neither regarded man; and there was a widow in that city; and she came unto him, saying, Avenge me of mine adversary. And he would not for a while; but afterward he said within himself, Though I fear not God, nor regard man; yet because this widow troubleth me, I will avenge her, lest by her continual coming she weary me. And the Lord said, Hear what the unjust judge saith. And shall not God avenge His own elect, which cry day and night unto Him, though He bear long with them? I tell you that He will avenge them speedily.” {COL 164.2}

Do we read this parable and think that God's case is that of the unjust judge? Is God an unjust judge who respects no man?

The judge who is here pictured had no regard for right, nor pity for suffering. The widow who pressed her case before him was persistently repulsed. Again and again she came to him, only to be treated with contempt, and to be driven from the judgment seat. The judge knew that her cause was righteous, and he could have relieved her at once, but he would not. He wanted to show his arbitrary power, and it gratified him to let her ask and plead and entreat in vain. But she would not fail nor become discouraged. Notwithstanding his indifference and hardheartedness, she pressed her petition until the judge consented to attend to her case. “Though I fear not God, nor regard man,” he said, “yet because this widow troubleth me, I will avenge her, lest by her continual coming she weary me.” To save his reputation, to avoid giving publicity to his partial, one-sided judgment, he avenged the persevering woman. {COL 164.3}

Do we come to the point of thinking that God has no regard for right, no pity for the suffering, a even if those suffering are ourselves? Do we consider ourselves persistently repulsed when we pray? Do we believe that we approach God so many times only to be treated with contempt and to be driven away from the judgment seat? Do we believe that he does not really want to help us? Do we consider that he has an arbitrary power, that it gratifies Him let us ask, plead and entreat, that He is indifferent and hard-hearted towards us, even though we have presented him with our most sincere requests? Do we believe that if he gives us anything it is simply to save his reputation as God the provider of all things and not truly because he loves us?

If so, and you are able to recognize them, congratulations, because those concepts about God are about to be ripped out of your soul so that you will never again have to think that way about your heavenly Father. Worst of all, these concepts were always within you, you always considered Him this way, and only now are they becoming manifest to you so that He can remove them from within you. Your only task in this case is to confess. Humble yourself and acknowledge it. That's the hard part, but you are one prayer away from being clean.

“And the Lord said, Hear what the unjust judge saith. And shall not God avenge His own elect, which cry day and night unto him, though He bear long with them? I tell you that He will avenge them speedily.” Christ here draws a sharp contrast between the unjust judge and God. The judge yielded to the widow’s request merely through selfishness, that he might be relieved of her importunity. He felt for her no pity or compassion; her misery was nothing to him. How different is the attitude of God toward those who seek Him. The appeals of the needy and distressed are considered by Him with infinite compassion. {COL 165.1}

The woman who entreated the judge for justice had lost her husband by death. Poor and friendless, she had no means of retrieving her ruined fortunes. So by sin, man lost his connection with God. Of himself he has no means of salvation. But in Christ we are brought nigh unto the Father. The elect of God are dear to His heart. They are those whom He has called out of darkness into His marvelous light, to show forth His praise, to shine as lights amid the darkness of the world. The unjust judge had no special interest in the widow who importuned him for deliverance; yet in order to rid himself of her pitiful appeals, he heard her plea, and delivered her from her adversary. But God loves His children with infinite love. To Him the dearest object on earth is His church. {COL 165.2}

Most striking of all, the following quotation finishes connecting and bringing together the whole theme of this article. Here is the way out of this labyrinth that Satan designs specifically for us:

The widow’s prayer, “Avenge me”—“do me justice” (R.V.)—“of mine adversary,” represents the prayer of God’s children. Satan is their great adversary. He is the “accuser of our brethren,” who accuses them before God day and night. (Revelation 12:10.) He is continually working to misrepresent and accuse, to deceive and destroy the people of God. And it is for deliverance from the power of Satan and his agents that in this parable Christ teaches His disciples to pray. {COL 166.2}

His whole work is to present himself as our adversary, to accuse us, to work hard to misrepresent God's people and the character of his Father. And we learn to pray for deliverance from all this.

The work of Satan as an accuser began in heaven. This has been his work on earth ever since man’s fall, and it will be his work in a special sense as we approach nearer to the close of this world’s history. As he sees that his time is short, he will work with greater earnestness to deceive and destroy. He is angry when he sees a people on the earth who, even in their weakness and sinfulness, have respect to the law [character] of Jehovah. He is determined that they shall not obey God. He delights in their unworthiness, and has devices prepared for every soul, that all may be ensnared and separated from God. He seeks to accuse and condemn God and all who strive to carry out His purposes in this world in mercy and love, in compassion and forgiveness. {COL 167.1}

The Lord’s people cannot of themselves answer the charges of Satan. As they look to themselves they are ready to despair. But they appeal to the divine Advocate. They plead the merits of the Redeemer. God can be “just, and the justifier of him which believeth in Jesus.” Romans 3:26. With confidence the Lord’s children cry unto Him to silence the accusations of Satan, and bring to naught his devices. “Do me justice of mine adversary,” they pray; and with the mighty argument of the cross, Christ silences the bold accuser. {COL 168.2}

The highest purpose of all, the most glorious thing that can happen in the midst of trial, distress and helplessness, the mightiest weapon against the enemy, his greatest frustration and our mightiest victory, is that standing in the midst of the valley of the shadow of death and in utter anguish and despair, we should know how to bow down and call upon the name of the living God in the name of his Son and claim the promised victory.

When trials arise that seem unexplainable, we should not allow our peace to be spoiled. However unjustly we may be treated, let not passion arise. By indulging a spirit of retaliation we injure ourselves. We destroy our own confidence in God, and grieve the Holy Spirit. There is by our side a witness, a heavenly messenger, who will lift up for us a standard against the enemy. He will shut us in with the bright beams of the Sun of Righteousness. Beyond this Satan cannot penetrate. He cannot pass this shield of holy light. {COL 171.3}

While the world is progressing in wickedness, none of us need flatter ourselves that we shall have no difficulties. But it is these very difficulties that bring us into the audience chamber of the Most High. We may seek counsel of One who is infinite in wisdom. {COL 172.1}

Every refusal to the voice that calls us to pray, through our own conscience or through that someone who desires to pray with us, is a delay that is put to the time of our deliverance. What would have taken us two hours, will now take us three. What would have taken us five days, will now take us a week. Every moment we spend listening to what the enemy has to say to us, is one more transformation in our mind that continues to twist the character of God. In this case, praying becomes an urgent task. In the emergency of trial, prayer is the only possible refuge.

There is no danger that the Lord will neglect the prayers of His people. The danger is that in temptation and trial they will become discouraged, and fail to persevere in prayer. {COL 175.1}

God is slow to answer

He who blessed the nobleman at Capernaum is just as desirous of blessing us. But like the afflicted father, we are often led to seek Jesus by the desire for some earthly good; and upon the granting of our request we rest our confidence in His love. The Saviour longs to give us a greater blessing than we ask; and He delays the answer to our request that He may show us the evil of our own hearts, and our deep need of His grace. He desires us to renounce the selfishness that leads us to seek Him. Confessing our helplessness and bitter need, we are to trust ourselves wholly to His love. {Pr 111.3}

What does this mean? That our tendency is to put God to the test. If He answers me, then He loves me, and if He doesn't answer me, or give me what I asked for, then He doesn't love me. We tempt him, we do what Satan did to him in the desert: "If you are the Son of God, you will do what I ask of you, you will prove that you can do it, and if not, then I will doubt your condition before the Father, or before me. Show me who you are, do a work that proves it. I want the evidence, for your mere word is worthless to me."

In His loving care and interest for us, often He who understands us better than we understand ourselves refuses to permit us selfishly to seek the gratification of our own ambition. He does not permit us to pass by the homely but sacred duties that lie next us. Often these duties afford the very training essential to prepare us for a higher work. Often our plans fail that God’s plans for us may succeed. {Pr 112.2}

We are never called upon to make a real sacrifice for God. Many things He asks us to yield to Him, but in doing this we are but giving up that which hinders us in the heavenward way. Even when called upon to surrender those things which in themselves are good, we may be sure that God is thus working out for us some higher good. {Pr 112.3}

In the future life the mysteries that here have annoyed and disappointed us will be made plain. We shall see that our seemingly unanswered prayers and disappointed hopes have been among our greatest blessings. {Pr 112.4}

Conclusion

We believe that our time on this earth is brief. Making the most of the time is key, and God knows exactly how we can be a blessing to others. Trials, difficulties and afflictions have been placed in our path so that if we are willing, the outcome of them will be good and only good.

We know of no unsolvable problems. We can drag difficulties along for years if we are obstinate and rebel against the word of God that shows us the way, but those moments of affliction that seem eternal to us will soon seem like nothing when they come to a resolution. God is the one who specializes in delivering us from times of distress, and in every process there is promised a blessing, an extremely valuable and unique jewel that is placed in our hand every time the waters calm down and peace reigns again.

The greatest and most valuable wealth we can have on this earth is a word of Jesus engraved forever in our heart. His words are the most precious wealth, and the treasures we make for ourselves in heaven consist in this, to believe his word, to know his character, to listen to him and to believe that his constant love accompanies us, even in greater measure, in those moments when he seems to be absent. We are no better than He is and in fact, we do not know how much better we could be, if only we could know him as He is.