TRUST GOD IN THE TESTING

Job 5:1-27 

Friday, 23 January 2026

“But as for me, I would seek God,

And to God I would commit my cause—" -Job 5:8

The Book of Job is an account of the testing of faith of “…a blameless and upright man who fears God and shuns evil” (Job 1:8) and about the sovereignty of God.  Job was a wealthy man, who lost everything including his children, possessions and even his health. Although his friends wanted to comfort him, in their finite understanding they condemned his suffering as a result ofhis sin and lack of turning to God. While God does punish sin, the Book of Job reveals that not all suffering is the consequence of sin.  

In our text today, one of Job’s friends, Eliphaz analyzes Job’s situation and tries to offer his“prejudiced” advice. Some of his advice is good and could apply to persons who turn from God, neglecting Him by walking in his own way. But we know from the very beginning of the book of Job, it wasn’t for any misconduct that Job was undergoing such harsh suffering but a testing that God permitted in his life. Without knowing the circumstances of a person’s afflictions, being judgmental is like adding insult to injury.

Suffering (if not for the wrong reason) can be considered as

• A Testing of Faith: For the one who professes that his faith is in Christ alone, there comes a time when his faith will be tested. Great men and women of the Bible have all gone through a test of faith – Abraham, Joseph, Job, Esther, Daniel and his friends and so on. James 1:2-4 encourages us, “Consider it all joy, my brethren, when you encounter various trials, knowing that the testing of your faith produces endurance. And let endurance have its perfect result, so that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing.”

• A Time of Trusting God: The key verse points us to seek God and commit our cause to Him, even while going through suffering. Psalm 37:5-6 says: Commit your way to the LORD, Trust also in Him, And He shall bring it to pass. He shall bring forth your righteousness as the light, And your justice as the noonday. In the valleys of our life, when we can’t figure out why we go through what we are going through, its most important to trust the Saviour who is holding us. It is to proclaim with confidence that the Lord is working even when we don’t see it. When all is stripped away and only our faithin God remains, may we like Habakkuk say, ‘Though the fig tree should not blossom And there be no fruit on the vines, Though the yield of the olive should fail And the fields produce no food, Though the flock should be cut off from the fold And there be no cattle in the stalls, Yet I will exult in the Lord, I will rejoice in the God of my salvation.’ (Habk.3:17-18)

• A Turn of Focus: During times of trials, its good to keep our eyes on the Author and perfecter of our faith who is seated in the heavens at the right hand of God ever interceding for us. Our understanding that the earthly troubles are but for a time, but in eternity we will always be with the Lord rejoicing- will help us through such periods.“For momentary, light affliction is producing for us an eternal weight of glory far beyond all comparison, while we look not at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen; for the things which are seen are temporal, but the things which are not seen are eternal.” (2 Corinthians 4:17-18). Jesus assures us that though we will face tribulations and suffering in this world, we have victory in Christ. (John 16:33).

In every testing God has a perfect plan for us. Let us commit our very lives into His care and trust that He never takes His eyes off us or let go of our hands that we stumble. Lets pray that our tests will turn into testimonies!

Quote for the Day: “There is no testimony without the test.”~ Anon