Experiencing God Through Trials
68Experiencing God Through Trials
Then Job replied to the Lord :
“I know that you can do all things ; no plan of yours can be thwarted. You asked , ‘who is this that obscures my counsel without knowledge?’
Surely I spoke of things I did not understand , things too wonderful for me to know .
“You said, ‘listen now and I will speak ; I will question you , and you shall answer me !
My ears had heard of you but now my eyes have seen you. Therefore I despise myself and repent in dust and ashes .”
Job 42: 1- 6
No man in the Bible has received so much severe trials as Job. He received a series of heavy blows of life involving the loss of his loved ones, livelihood and properties. Finally Job was afflicted physically. Satan afflicted Job with painful sores from the soles of his feet to the top of his head. In all these trials, Job has remained firm in his faith in the Lord. He even said, “though he slay me. Yet I will hope in him.”
But Job’s anguish is indeed very intense that he wished he had not been born at all. The anguish is indeed tremendous that Job wished his death. These agonies are furtherly intensified by his friend’s false judgements and accusations on him. But God has not remained silent for so long. He brings out a deeper revelation of Himself to Job. After the trials, Job has now an experiential encounter of God who he just used to hear about . Job’s trials have brought him into a face to face encounter with the Great and Awesome God of the Universe. After this encounter, Job will never be the same again. He has met the Almighty face to face. If he did not experience severe trials in life, he will never know and encounter God as intimate as possible. His trials indeed have brought him into an experiential encounter and revelation knowledge of God.
Truly trials could be considered as blessings in life. Let me relate to you the testimony of my longtime friend and high school classmate Mary Ann Molina Besinga who had gone through much trials in her earlier life. She was just in her early twenties when she was diagnosed with life threathening leukemia. Because of this condition, she lost many of the things she held dearly in her life. She lost her beloved boyfriend and her precious job. Inspite of all these sufferings and losses she never rebel against God . She never question God’s sovereignty in her life. Instead she remain in trusting that God will see her through in this ordeal. She consider it as an opportunity to give glory to God. God is good and faithful indeed. After much prayers of Maryann’s loved ones and Christian friends , after two years of intense bout with leukemia, Mary Ann finally received her healing. After this trial, MaryAnn became more intimate with God. MaryAnn has indeed experienced Him in a very intimate way. He is not just a theology, He is real in MaryAnn’s life for He healed her. If MaryAnn had not experience this trial, she would have not known God more intimately. She experienced God through the trials and sufferings. Now she has a revelation knowledge of God not merely head knowledge. Today Mary Ann has her own family and blessed with a Christian publishing business.
There are times in our life that we have to go through sufferings and trials to experience intimacy with God. Only through this way, God will be revealed unto us in a deeper and more intimate way. For Job it has brought him into a revelation of God he had not known before. Through trials and sufferings , we can receive a fresh touch and visitation from God. It is God’s utmost will to bring each of His precious children into a face to face relationship with Him. So the next time trials come our way, let us look at it as opportunities to grow deeper in our knowledge of God.
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Hi Patrick I am glad to hear from you. I am glad that you are encouraged by this article. May God continue to reveal Himself to you in a more intimate ways you have not known before. Remain blessed always. Best regards.
Loved your hub. I have read Job and found he had an amazing faith in God. Our trials are many but they lead us to greater understanding of love when we ride them though to the end. Love your story about Mary Ann.
Hello teaches12345 I am glad to hear from you. Welcome to my hub. Yes I really admire Job for his great faith in God. Such faith that cannot be easily moved by ugly circumstances in life.It is just worth to pray to have such kind of faith. Thank you for paying a visit. Your visit and comments are much appreciated. May you be blessed today and always. Best regards.
It is during great trials that we often forget the Lord. It is during these times that we need to remain faithful. This is a beautiful hub.
A very uplifting story about your friend. I like Job's story too as in both these cases we see that God always has a bigger picture and purpose in mind when we suffer.
I know personally that times of trial and suffering is when I draw the most near to Him.
Kathy Troccoli sings a song that goes like this...
If it wasn't for the times that I was down
If it wasn't for the times that I was bound
For all the times that I wondered
How I would ever make it through
All of the times that I couldn't see my way
And I had to turn to You
How would I know You could deliver
How would I know You could set free
If there had never been a battle
How would I know the victory
How would I know You could be faithful
To meet all of my needs
Lord I appreciate the hard times
Otherwise how would I know
I remember all the times I had to cry
And at the time all I could do was wonder why
Why would a God so kind and loving
Allow me to go through all this pain
If I could see into the future
Then I would know the joy I'd gain
But how would I know You could deliver
How would I know You could set free
If there had never been a battle
How would I know the victory
How would I know You could be faithful
To meet all of my needs
Lord I appreciate the hard times
Otherwise how would I know
How would I know that you could
Make a way out of no way
How would I know if I never had a need
Brother, I know what you're goin' through
Sister, I know 'cause I've been in your shoes
But I can truly say that I know what God can do
How would I know You could deliver
How would I know You could set free
If there had never been a battle
How would I know the victory
How would I know You could be faithful
To meet all of my needs
Lord I appreciate the hard times
Otherwise how would I know
Otherwise how would I know
How would I know You could set free
How would I know You deliver me
How would I know You could make a way
How would I know You could meet my needs
Bless you Cristina!
Really God has bless you in this ministry.Continue it friend!Don't give up of what you have started.Your Hub are indeed a blessing to others.
Hi jpcmc I am glad to hear from you. You are welcome in this hub. Thank you for dropping by and appreciating this hub. Yes it is during those hard times in life that we have to hold on to our faith for there is no other better alternative.Trials are meant to draw us inot an intimate relationship with God. May you be blessed today and always. Best regards.
Hi Tamarajo I am glad to hear from you again. I am blessed by your visit. Thank you for gracing this hub. Your visit and comments are great source of encouragement to me, I really love the song that you shared by Kathy Troccoli I am really blessed and uplifted by the words of this song. Yes without trials we can never know God in a deeper and more intimate way. Blessings to you and to your family as well. Best regards.
If only I could go thro just a little of what JOB went thro it would make me more blessed than I am now I'm sure about that.
I can say here that thro 2 operations I've had the last 3yrs. I can say that knowing our Lord more than before I now can say that my life is SO Blessed, yes He is the Great Healer, provider, as I do things that I never dreamed I would be doing.
Great hub cristina
Hi ate Alice I am glad to see you visited this hub. Thank you for dropping by and appreciating this hub.Thank you for words of encouragement. Remain blessed always. Best regards.
Hi Raymond Tremain I am happy to see you on this hub. I am blessed by your comments. Thank you for taking time to visit this hub. Your visit and comments are much appreciated. Yes without trials we can never experience God in a more intimate and deeper way. Trials I may say add colors to our spiritual life. It is during those most agonizing moments that we encounter God most intimately. We must go beyond our head knowledge of God, so we must be broken by trials to receive the revelation knowledge of God. May you be blessed today and always. Best regards.
cristina327 Sister I must tell you. When I landed on your page I felt the peace of the Holy Spirit on the page before reading. His peace flooded me from the tip of the head to the souls of the feet. I was drenched in His presence. Oh awesome God.
You my sister are so precious and the Lord so loves you. Your are a gem a diamond, a five star shining His Light. Truly I tell you the lives you have touched are many indeed. I have been Blessed by your annointed words and beautiful writings. I love the story of Job. Today his story so touched me. No mistake I am here and you understand. Love you sister. Keep on keep on in Him You will Phil 4:13
I can relate more to paul and how he counted it all joy, today. I am so grateful. God is shaping HIS children for these latter days. We are His elect. Wow. All Glory to God. It is not always easy but He has us covered!! Praise His Holy name. Sweet Jesus. (-;
UP AWESOME
Hi skye2day I am glad to hear from you again. I am blessed by your comments. Thank you for paying a visit and appreciating this hub. Your presence in this hub is a great source of encouragement to me. You really never fail to encourage me with your comments. I am always happy to hear from you. Truly trials are destined to make a greater person out of us, so we have to count it all joy when we encounter various trials. May you be blessed today and always. Best regards.
Cristina, This is a marvelous spiritually edifying presentation on Job! He is a wonderful example for everyone! It is always so interesting to me that the Book of Job is actually one of the oldest Scriptures that have been record! There is a wealth of wisdom here! I luv how you brought out the skepticism of Job’s friends: “These agonies are furtherly intensified by his friend’s false judgements and accusations on him. But God has not remained silent for so long. He brings out a deeper revelation of Himself to Job.” Despite the agony and doubt of his friends God was working it all out for a greater purpose! Job remained Faithful!
As we go through things in life we have Job as an excellent example! The story of your friend, Mary Ann Molina is another great example! What a marvelous victory! We too must KEEP our main focus on the LORD and TRUST that in every situation HE WILL “work all things together for the GOOD!”
As you so wonderfully stated:” There are times in our life that we have to go through sufferings and trials to experience intimacy with God. Only through this way, God will be revealed unto us in a deeper and more intimate way. For Job it has brought him into a revelation of God he had not known before. Through trials and sufferings , we can receive a fresh touch and visitation from God.” Amen! & AMEN! PRAISE GOD! I cannot imagine what I would do without the Lord in my life! Thank God for JESUS CHRIST! & Thank You for sharing, In HIS Love, Grace, Joy, Peace & Blessings! GOD BLESS YOU!
HI DeBorrah I am glad to hear from you again. I am always blessed by your visit. Thank you for dropping by and appreciating this hub. Your visit and comments are great source of encouragement to me. Yes we can always look up to Job as a great model for those who are experiencing great trials in life. His life is a blessing and a great source of encouragement and comfort. I am glad we have the Book of Job in the Bible. I will keep on coming back to it. Thank you for the accolades. You never fail to encourage me everytime you visit my hub. May you be blessed today and always. Best regards.
This is such a wonderful hub, Cristina! It is true that through trials and sufferings that we do experience God's revelation in our lives. Both Job and Mary Ann were great testimonies for Christians. They both had unwavering faith in God! Anyhow, please, allow me to share a song written by Don Moen entitled "God Will Make A Way"-
God will make a way
Where there seems to be no way
He works in ways we cannot see
He will make a way for me
He will be my guide
Hold me closely to His side
With love and strength for each new day
He will make a way
He will make a way
(This is an excerpt from the song-God Will Make A Way).
This is one of my favorite gospel songs, and I think the message is similar to your hub's. Thank you for sharing this very inspiring hub, Christina! Keep at it. God bless!
You know cristina you write here about 'JOB' well last night at our study group we were told about the speaker who went thro very much the same as JOB where he lost everything then he turned to drink but over time he came thro it from many praying for him now he has a family ,he is a Pastor now and so is his son, he said he related to what JOB went thro.
you know for my self over all my years I have lived a blessed life, God just opens doors for me all the time, i just feel that nothing what is not of God ever touches me, I'm always at ease I don't feel any load on me is this how God wants me to feel so I can be there for those who need lifting? I know because many tell me that they get blessed from my writes, well I only write what God gives to me, is this what it means by feeling that you are at peace with the Lord, if it is I've been there for years, I oftened wondered why, it may be that my father was a preacher so was my mom's father and now its up to me to keep going telling the story.
Hi Caroline thank you for dropping by and posting some words of encouragement. Thank you for appreciating this hub. I am greatly encouraged by your comments. Thank you also for posting the words of the song "God will make a way." Truly it is in our deepest trials that we experienced greatest intimacy with God. May you be blessed today and always. Best regards.
Hi Brother Raymond glad to hear from you. Thank you for sharing the story of that person who lost everything and turned to God. Yes if he has not lost everything he might still be far away from God.It is in our afflictions that we get intimate with God.Giving trials and afflictions is one of the ways of God of molding our character into nobility. As Pastor Rick Warren Says, God is more interested in building our character rather than giving us comfort. May you be blessed today and always. Best regards.
Yes so true cristina, so many do get into a comfort zone then wonder why nothing is working
God loves you
PATRICK TENG 4 months ago
I am very encouraged by this article.