Testing Times/Live It!

Job is the ultimate biblical example of testing through suffering.
In the first two chapters of the Old Testament book of Job, we see the man lose his incredible inventories of livestock (his wealth, possessions and income), his ten children in a freak accident (relationships), and finally his own health when he's smitten head-to-toe with painful sores.

You think you have troubles!

The next 36 chapters of Job (the book) record a whine fest as Job (the man) defends his stellar record of godliness while his friends accuse him of having a hidden sin. In essence, Job is saying, "I don't deserve this," which essentially is questioning God. It's like saying, "What are you doing, God? Don't you know I'm on your side?" Job's friends were saying, "Well of course you deserve it." Neither was correct.

We learn through Job's experience that God does not send good or bad into a person's life based on his track record of following the Ten Commandments. God's purposes are often higher than our ability to discern. But we can trust that God is tuned in to our needs and that He is concerned with our ultimate welfare.

So, what is our responsibility during a time of testing? Here are three:

• Seek God. Ultimately, because God is Sovereign, our appeal should be to Him. We reinforce our trust of Him when we seek his involvement in our lives. We acknowledge His care, His goodness and mercy, and His love for us. (2 Cor. 1:8-10)
• Grow in your Faith. If your faith is never tested, you'll never know how strong it is. You test your muscles by adding weights. You test your brain power by taking exams. You should see troubles as an opportunity to increase your belief in what God can do. (Mark 5:35-36)
• Learn to persevere. Like the marathon runner uses short runs to prepare for the big contest, we should use testing times to enhance our endurance. God is the ultimate trainer. We can trust Him for the preparation we need to run the race He has marked out for us. (James 1:2-4)

In the midst of all this, seek to regain the good you may have lost in your life. Health, relationships, and a living wage are all important to a productive life. Seek God's best and ask for His direction and blessing. But then work as if it's up to you, knowing that a loving Father is working behind the scenes for your good.

Testing Times/Go Deep

When a crisis hits, we inevitably go to the "Why?" questions.

Why me? Why this? Why now?
Underlying all these questions is a quietly, but stubbornly held assumption: "I don't deserve this."

And that, my friend, is the issue at the crux of a testing time.

Let's take a closer look at the three examples of loss and what they truly mean to us as men and perhaps we'll gain some insights into why we respond as we do.

Income. A job means more than livelihood. For one thing, it involves a man's self-esteem. Having a job means paying your own way, being in charge of your own destiny. With the loss of a job (or income), self-worth will often take a hit. And, if we'll admit it, our security is usually tied to our work as well. We think that everything hangs on having that job.

As a Christian, think about where your self-esteem and security should come from. It doesn't mean you can't take pride in your work and that it can't be meaningful to you. But is it everything?

Relationship. A relationship can mean many things to us, but comfort has to be at the top of the list. A good relationship brings comfort in the form of companionship. Some relationships offer mentoring, a person we can share with and can count on in times of joy and times of need. A friendship can be like a port in a storm, providing you with a safe haven from the world's troubles. Losing that relationship, or others, can often leave us rudderless.

God made us to be relational. But, as Christians, what is the ultimate relationship that provides us with companionship, mentoring, direction and equilibrium?

Health. A severe loss of health ushers in a time of diminishment. Your world becomes smaller. Your capabilities are reduced. You lose opportunities, or the ability to capitalize on the opportunities that come your way. It feels as if time and things are slipping through your fingers. Progress--as you measure it--is slowed. Or, even stopped.

As a Christian, though, isn't there supposed to be opportunity in every circumstance we face?

There is an underlying crisis for men in all these situations--a loss of control. Perhaps, this is the most devastating of all, because we work on controlling just about everything around us. A loss of control results in a loss of direction, which leads to a loss of a sense of purpose.

If all this is true for you, then maybe the questions you should be asking should revolve around the health of your relationship with God, your trust level with your Savior, and this issue of ultimate control over your life.

Whew! Let's go to God's Word Friday. I'm going to need it to land this plane!

Testing Times/Think About It

Being tested by difficult circumstances is a universal experience.
But "a time of testing" is a spiritual concept.

I want to talk this week about testing from that spiritual perspective--how a testing time impacts us as men, what God may be teaching us through the experience, and how we should respond.

As a beginning point, and for the purposes of this week's blog, I'm defining a testing time as a life experience that pushes us way out of our comfort zone. A crisis point, typically initiated by a severe loss.

Here are some examples:

• A loss of income--The loss of income is always a major hit for guys. Being fired or laid off, or experiencing a realignment that drops you a rung or two lower on the salary ladder. But this can also be the result of a voluntary action, such as taking a lower paying job for family reasons or stepping out in faith and taking on a ministry position that pays less than a secular job.
• A loss of an important relationship--Generally, the death of a close friend or family member. But also this can involve an estrangement, like a divorce or separation from your spouse. Sometimes, its a disagreement or misunderstanding that leaves you at odds with a good friend. Bottom line, someone who was once an important part of your life is no longer available to you.
• A loss of health--This is especially difficult, because if it is severe enough, it can jeopardize your ability to generate income and can impact your relationships negatively as well. What's more, it's very personal. Sometimes, a severe illness. Sometimes, a bad injury that has multiple ramifications.

The question that results is "Why?" If God is all-knowing and all-powerful, and He is good, then why is this hardship happening in my life. Especially when God's Word says He will look after me (Romans 8:28)?

This is where the testing comes in. Think about the testing times you've experienced, how you felt and how you responded. Then let's talk more Wednesday about the question.