What in the world do you do when the trials just keep coming? When you feel like you honestly and truly cannot fight anymore? When you see all the positive promises of hope and goodness and prosperity and reward and can in no way identify or ever see yourself being able to identify with those verses?
Sure, we can cling to the verse in 2 Corinthians 4 where Paul says “We are afflicted in every way, but not crushed; perplexed, but not driven to despair; persecuted, but not forsaken; struck down, but not destroyed” and hang onto Romans 8:28 where we are told that “all things work for the good of those that love God, who are called according to his purpose.” But what happens when that really doesn’t help anymore?
This journey I have been on has been one trial after another and just when it seemed to be lifting, yet another wave came crashing down. Through it all, I have been keenly aware that it is God’s sovereign hand over my life and that this really isn’t about me, although I will come through an entirely different person, praise be to God. But knowing that doesn’t make the pain any less painful. It doesn’t take the discomfort away or make the extra time necessary to live life any less frustrating.
So what do you do when there seems to be no rest for the weary and a relentless torrent of trials crashing through your life.
You go beyond religion and fall on Jesus. You study scripture and seek Him,
God led me to study Genesis and Job this year so far and he spoke so clearly to me specifically through the stories of Joseph and Job. That is what truly has been sustaining me through this time. You can know the truth and Bible verses to back it up and still feel the pain of life. At least that has been my experience. But through my study God taught me a few things that have been more of a balm to my soul.
1. God is always, always, in control.
In both Job and Joseph’s story it is super clear that nothing happened that was not in God’s plan. We are actually given the pre-story to Job’s suffering which is the conversation between God and Satan. And when you look at Joseph’s story it becomes clear that not only did God use Joseph to save many lives including his families lives, but he also used Joseph in Egypt to keep the Israelite nation pure. The Egyptian people hated shepherds and the Hebrew people, so they were not going to embrace them and Joseph was in authority enough to assign his family the best land in Egypt for their flocks and herds.
2. Sometimes God’s trials last a long time.
Although we do not know how long Job suffered, Joseph’s trials lasted 37 years. He did not have an easy life at home with his brothers as he grew up and then was sold at 17 and lived in Egypt 20 years before reconciliation. Talk about bad getting worse!
3. God’s trials produce character growth and do not end in ruin.
Job, although his loss and suffering was great, was doubly rewarded afterward. And although he was not given double the children, he had the same number but was a changed man and parented quite differently which produced godly children.
Joseph was changed from an arrogant man with intense pride to a man who would take no credit but give all the glory to God. He was able to forgive those who had mistreated him by accepting that God’s way was best. In the end, Joseph was made the highest in the land under Pharaoh himself, was reconciled to his family and saw relationships mended. God fully put back together what he had taken apart.
4. There is a purpose; therefore, there will be an end.
Because God is in sovereign control, these things that happen to us are not random out of control circumstances. None of what we go through surprises God and they have been allowed on our lives for a specific purpose. While sometimes they can be consequences, sometimes they are simply to test us, like Job, or to prepare us for something God has for us to do, like Joseph. And like Job and Joseph, there will be a completion to the process we find ourselves in.
Despite what I was going through, I found great comfort in the insight God gave me as I read and studied the stories of these two men. They were more comforting to me than the verses of promise usually given to comfort the trials of life. We were made for community and relationship and to share in each others sorrows. Even though these men have long since been in heaven, their stories offered an empathy that was soothing.
But I’m curious. Has God led you to a specific story that has offered soothing empathy during a time of trial in your life? I would love to know which one! Leave it in the comments below. 🙂
13 thoughts on “When The Trials Keep Coming…”
Great article! I have been going through a lot lately. I have just been accepted into a dental hygiene program, financial aid has taken care of everything accept my dental hygiene instruments that I need for clinicals and it is super expensive. And I have tried to look for a job but no luck there. I have been fasting and praying and studying the word and believing that God will provide for me. Now there’s another problem; I have to get vaccines to maintain my acceptance into the program but the hospital that I go to is unorganized and is completely messing everything up and the deadline is quickly approaching and I just want to give up. Sometimes I feel as if God doesn’t want me to go into this career path. And there is another side of me that feels like god justs wants me to keep having faith and trust in him and know that I can not control everything. But its hard because all of these faustrating situations just keep popping up.
Thank you! It is amazing how the good entwines with the bad and leaves so much uncertainty! God will lead you through and direct your steps through the path He has for you. If dental hygiene is the right path, He will allow the doors to open. Above all, seek peace because he is not a God of confusion or of fear/worry. Those two things are not from Him. I will be praying for you! Sometimes it is a matter of persevering until the doors are closed. Something not in His plan for your life will come to a halt, but sometimes he is asking us to persevere ahead in faith. Keep persevering until he closes the door! And then there is the matter of choosing the best yes because sometimes both choices are equally good. Get your hands on a copy of Lysa TerKeurst’s book The Best Yes, from Proverbs 31 Ministries, if you can!
I am really blessed to have found this. It feels like I have been going through trials since 13 years old. That was the year my mother had passed away. I had given my life to Christ 2 years prior to that and thank God I did. I wouldn’t be the person I am today. I am going to read the story of Job again and this time add Joseph. Job story has always resonated with me because of how he suffered. It gives me hope, in my trials.
Hi Amelia. Praise God for His hope! Pain, Perplexity, and Promotion by Bob Sorge and The Genesis Record by Henry Morris were two books that really helped me understand as I studied those books/stories. Thanks for stopping by and commenting 🙂
I had been experiencing trials from God since the day a prophetess come to my parents and we pray at home. My mom and I that woman prophecies that God is telling me that I am going to pass through hardship she couldn’t imagine even not able to speak, but also she said after that, there is a good rife and rise after which will amaze everyone who will know. Since then…. I do business I fail, I am jobless but even when I had it, I couldn’t be payed while others are receiving their salary, my university stopped due to fees….I am at a point I can have any effort to do anything just being indoors get out for sport and church and come back home … All my friends are gone, all my family accuse me to be lazy, and that is for over 7 years….I don’t know what I can do. I wonder when will I be free and get ability to prosper like others around me. I can’t explain this to anyone even those we pray together…..
“God fully put back together what He had taken apart.” Thank you for pointing this out along with the gentle encouragement that knowledge of the promises and pain aren’t exclusive.
You’re welcome. That’s a comforting realization for sure.
This really sound good, but I feel so tired, I can loose words in my praying sessions, I don’t know if this will end. I am at the ages of getting married, I got no piece of penny weeding requires more, I can’t even date a girl I use to see in my dreams many nights when I am sleeping. 2 years she appear in my dreams. I am confused of what to do where to go, how to find life and …..I don’t know
I have asked lots of times for a word from Him or to let me die. Life has been hard on me, to the point that almost nobody around me goes through similar struggles. Decades of abuse from narcissistic parents and then more abuse in the workplace has taken a toll on me. I’m having constant thoughts of suicide because the pain of living in underserved shame and abuse is unbearable. I have no job because of persecution from evil people and can’t even support myself. I have no community to support me either because none of those I consider friends are wiling to truly stand by me. More often than not, I’m looked down or ignored by people who see victims of society as defective. I did not renounce my faith because I know God had done a lot for my family, and I know He has not to be blamed for what I suffered. But I still don’t know why He will not give me a word on what to do with my life given all the abuse and shame inflicted by evil people and why I should continue breathing. When will all this end? I ask only for grace and peace, an end to abuse from society.
Friend surrender your emotions to the Lord, and you will “taste and see that the Lord is good;
blessed is the one who takes refuge in him.” Hosea 2:14. I understand your trial because I too have sought to hear His voice or a word of comfort when afflicted with emotional abuse. The first thing to do is “forgive” . You do not have to forgive the people that hurt you to their face, you may one day when you are strong enough, but for now you must focus on living in God’s peace in your heart. You need to foster a loving, trusting, relationship with Him. Tell the Lord in your heart “I forgive them….”Lord, how many times shall I forgive my brother when he sins against me? Up to seven times?” 22Jesus answered, “I tell you, not seven times, but seventy-seven times. Matthew 18:21-35. Your healing begins on the inside, the fact that you are now forgiving your persecutors God can act in your life in a profound way. I would also advise to seek spiritual direction. So very helpful when these trials leave us tossed in the ocean with no anchor. A local priest, pastor whatever denomination you belong too or faith based community should be the next step to build a strong, trusting relationship with Jesus. For He is a God of peace, if we are not experiencing the peace then we need to examine ourselves first with HIs guidance and help to have peace. God bless you – I will pray for you.
Greetings! I just found this article and not sure when it was written but thank you God bless you dear beloved soul for writing it!!
Each soul has a morsel to offer others through their pain and suffering and you’re morsel struck me like a two-edged sword when it said a purpose comes to an end!!
Thank you for your study, sharing your painful experience in courage as most people don’t which I find very disturbing actually? It is our experience that God intends for us to comfort others.
MIKE Initially, let me say that there are not many folks that deal with the issues of
life as you are here in this forum; therefore, thank you so much. I am 69 years old
and have known the Lord truly for 49 years. On my own since I was 15, I have really
never known a life without trial. At 69 and a believer , trials are coming more than ever.
I have a ton of comments and questions for this forum. Here is one; I have just actually
finished the Book of Job. You know that unlike Job, we will not receive ” a double
portion on this earth.” In all sincerity, what should a believer IN THIS DAY learn
from the Book of Job?
Since 2010 to the present I’ve lost house by bank “Fraud” almost my business by Client stealing money, family members who stolen money from us total over 125k, I’ve lost minister partner’s to death by wrong injections from VA I’ve lost good friends in Christ to sudden heart attacks and finally I lost my wife to doctors malpractice in 2022 , I told the Lord Jesus I’m DONE 😓, I want to come home , I’ve served God in prayer for over 30 years and when I say serve I’ve prayed for pastors I the back room as they preached like Nash did for Finney , I have thousands and thousands of hours on my knees for the Book of life to be Filled . Not regarding my self but all for the service to our savior. But to answer your question, those two stand out the most Joseph and Job
So God didn’t take me home he’s help me stand up again to finish my call glory to his name.