Experiencing God's Presence #262

Experiencing God's Presence #262

He knows where I am going. And when he tests me, I will come out as pure as gold.

Job 23:10

Life didn’t make sense. This God had promised to reward the obedient with blessings and to curse the disobedient with disaster. And yet an obedient man was experiencing disaster. Perhaps Job knew the divine orders of blessing and curse, or perhaps he didn’t. Either way, he knew the character of God, and God’s actions didn’t seem right.

Even in the midst of his darkest season, Job knew that the apparent absence of God was not a sign of His disfavor—or even worse, that He was somehow unjust. Job knew his own heart, he trusted God’s, and he believed everything would work out in the end. He couldn’t explain why bad things were happening or how a good God would allow them. But in the dark, he trusted what he had learned in the light.

There are times when we have to either make that choice or walk away from what we believe. Perhaps that’s one reason God allows dark, disorienting moments—to see whether we trust His heart regardless of what we see or decide He isn’t who He said He is after all. In the face of contradictions, true faith will decide that the human perspective is flawed and God’s purposes are still good—even if the “evidence” says otherwise. This decision, this declaration that God is good anyway, is His ultimate victory over the enemy. The tempter has lost when he has made his best case that God is not good and we insist that He is anyway. A soul that makes that choice is built for eternity.

In your times of darkness, cling to what you’ve learned in the light. Refuse to accept the adversary’s spin on your circumstances. Know that when you are tested in the fire and your faith in God’s goodness stands, you will come through to a place of honor and blessing.

Lord, I believe. Even when I can’t see, I know who You are, and I cling to You always.