Jonah and Job – The Trials Of Life

Jonah and Job

Have you ever felt like giving up? Have you ever felt like God just wasn’t listening to you or feeling your pain?

I know someone who just went through a Jonah experience. He was on the wrong path, not doing what he was suppose to do… so God put him in the belly of a whale, figuratively speaking. During the first 3 days he was still closed off to what God was showing him… but after that, things opened up. It seems that sometimes, God has to back us into forced solitude to get our attention and sometimes he has to take everything away from us like he did with Job to get our attention (though Job didn’t do anything wrong to cause his situation).

I know someone else who is going through a Job experience and it seems to have no end. The friend who has gone through the Jonah experience is well and good now; he came through the pit hole all in one piece. On the other hand, the Job friend is not currently doing so great. Of course, when someone goes through the fire, a natural question to ask is ‘Why’ and ‘When will it be over’… Naturally, we do not always receive the answers until it is done, and sometimes, not even then.

Someone I once knew said that they believed that God allowed trials of our faith to always go beyond what the last trial pushed us to so that we would continually be strengthened in our faith and patience. I have also heard many times that God will not allow more than we can bare, however, I have never found scripture to back this statement up. I have seen it say that He will allow a way out of temptation, but not a trial. They are two separate things. It is assumed the He would not allow us to go through more than we could bare, or rather, He would give us what we need to get through those things – always learning to rely solely on Him and not ourselves. We of course were never promised a life of happiness and harmony, not in this life anyway…

A Life of Trials and Persecution

The choice to become a Christian should not be made based on comforts and promises of prosperity. Nowhere in the Word of God does it promise these things for those who choose to follow the Lord Jesus. Rather, it promises trials and persecution John 15:19 If ye were of the world, the world would love his own: but because ye are not of the world, but I have chosen you out of the world, therefore the world hateth you. John 17:14 I have given them thy word; and the world hath hated them, because they are not of the world, even as I am not of the world. The word of God requires a sacrifice of self in the sense that we are not to take part in the sins of the flesh but rather Romans 12:2 And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God. Just as it says 1 Peter 1:6-11 Wherein ye greatly rejoice, though now for a season, if need be, ye are in heaviness through manifold temptations: That the trial of your faith, being much more precious than of gold that perisheth, though it be tried with fire, might be found unto praise and honour and glory at the appearing of Jesus Christ: Whom having not seen, ye love; in whom, though now ye see him not, yet believing, ye rejoice with joy unspeakable and full of glory: Receiving the end of your faith, even the salvation of your souls. Of which salvation the prophets have enquired and searched diligently, who prophesied of the grace that should come unto you: Searching what, or what manner of time the Spirit of Christ which was in them did signify, when it testified beforehand the sufferings of Christ, and the glory that should follow.

God has chosen the foolishness of the world to confound the wise and He sent His Son, Jesus who stated Matthew 9:13 …for I am not come to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance.

We rest in the assurance that 1 Corinthians 1:25 Because the foolishness of God is wiser than men; and the weakness of God is stronger than men. 1 Corinthians 2:14 But the natural man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God: for they are foolishness unto him: neither can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned. 1 Corinthians 1:21 For after that in the wisdom of God the world by wisdom knew not God, it pleased God by the foolishness of preaching to save them that believe. 1 Corinthians 1:22 For the Jews seek after a sign, and the Greeks seek after wisdom: 1 Corinthians 1:23 But we preach Christ crucified, unto the Jews a stumbling block, and unto the Greeks foolishness;.

So, where do we go from here? We could pray, this is always a good idea. Comforting words are great, but once you have said whatever you can think of to say… then what? 1 Corinthians 15:30 And why stand we in jeopardy every hour?. The Bible says that Ephesians 6:13 Wherefore take unto you the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand. Also, 1 Thessalonians 3:8 For now we live, if ye stand fast in the Lord.

I always told my friends when they were going through rough trials, that they should stand firm in their trust in the Lord Jesus… He will come through for His name’s sake. Even when Israel was rebellious toward God, He kept His promises to them ‘for His name’s sake’. How much more for us who put our trust, hope and faith in the name, which is above all names, Jesus? His glory depends upon His faithfulness. Satan waits at the door to find any fault with God’s dominion reign so that he can try to say he is better than Him. We know that this will never be allowed to happen. So, stand firm I say in the truth you know in Christ and He is obligated by His own Words Psalm 34:17 The righteous cry, and the Lord heareth, and delivereth them out of all their troubles and Psalm 34:19 Many are the afflictions of the righteous: but the Lord delivereth him out of them all.

A Comforting Conclusion

Our comfort rests not in the things of this world or those who seem to control it, our hope lies solely in our Lord and Saviour, Jesus, the Christ, the Messiah, the King of Kings and Lord of Lords. 1 Peter 1:3-5 Blessed be the God and father of our Lord Jesus Christ, which according to his abundant mercy hath begotten us again unto a lively hope by the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, To an inheritance incorruptible, and undefiled, and that fadeth not away, reserved in heaven for you, Who are kept by the power of God through faith unto salvation ready to be revealed in the last time. 1 Peter 1:12 Unto whom it was revealed, that not unto themselves, but unto us they did minister the things, which are now reported unto you by them that have preached the gospel unto you with the Holy Ghost sent down from heaven; which things the angels desire to look into. Jeremiah 17:7 Blessed is the man that trusteth in the Lord, and whose hope the Lord is. Titus 2:13 Looking for that blessed hope, and the glorious appearing of the great God and Saviour Jesus Christ; 1 Peter 1:25 But the word of the Lord endureth forever. And this is the word, which by the gospel is preached unto you.

So, I will end on this note (as previously stated): Ephesians 6:13 Wherefore take unto you the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand.