What if we all have to pass the Job test? The Bible tells us that He cares for us and that if he feeds the birds and clothes the lilies, then even more so, he will provide our needs (1 Peter 5:7; Matthew 6:26-30). But do we sometimes expect all our prayer requests to be granted because we are his children? Job was his too. Job was faithful and prayed for his family daily but still had to endure great suffering. And only because he was faithful to God that he came out successfully.

But what if each of us has to be tested somehow? Will we come out still serving God?

Job was upright, richly blessed by God, and he prayed often.  

There was a man in the land of Uz whose name was Job, and that man was blameless and upright, one who feared God and turned away from evil… he would rise early in the morning and offer burnt offerings according to the number of them (his children) all.  (Job 1:1-5)

However, this did not prevent him from falling into great suffering. This suffering was so great that we need to ask ourselves how would we come through after such things. For instance, all his children died. He actually went through almost every major suffering. He lost his wealth, his children, his wife and his friends. His health even suffered. (Job 1:13-20, Job 2:1-10).

But in the end, Job came through and remained faithful to God. The question is would we be able to do that? When we suffer, do we think that God has abandoned us? When things do not go the way we hoped, do we think it’s because God does not want to bless us? Our minds can be our worst enemies, especially in distress.

What if when we suffer, it is our opportunity to show God that we trust Him? This may be an opportunity to show God that we still love him even when we do not see his blessings and favour. To show God, we don’t have to be experiencing his favour to serve him. That just as he loves us unconditionally even when we fail, we can love him even when he is not blessing us. However, we can argue that he constantly blesses us with life and breath. In the account of Job, God seemed convinced that his servant Job would pass the test (Job 1:8). Can we say the same about ourselves?

So just something to think about. How will we respond if given even a fraction of this kind of suffering?