"challenges and trials from God"

Sorry I haven’t been blogging. Hahaha.

But anyway, I just happened to talk to a friend yesterday, and it seems she’s been facing a lot of problems lately, and a lot of temptations in life. In the middle of our conversation, she then asked if all those incidents were tests from God.

I said definitely.

In the book of Job, you can see how God tested Job. Job was, as the Bible says, a blameless and upright man who feared God and shunned evil. Then one day, Satan came along to God and told God he was just roaming through the earth.

God: “Have you considered my servant Job? There is no one on earth like him; he is blameless and upright, a man who fears God and shuns evil.”

Satan: “Have you not put a hedge around him and his household and everything he has? You have blessed the work of his hands, so that his flocks and herds are spread throughout the land. But stretch out your hand and strike everything he has and he will surely curse you to your face.”

God: “Very well then, everything he has is in your hands, but on the man himself do not lay a finger.”

So then God allowed Satan to wipe out all his 7000 sheep, 3000 camels, 500 yoke of oxen, 500 donkeys, 7 sons, 3 daughters and all his servants except for 4 to deliver the bad news to him. Job then got up and tore his robe and shaved his head. Then he fell to the ground in worship and said: “Naked I came from my mother’s womb, and naked I will depart. The Lord gave and the Lord has taken away; may the name of the Lord be praised.”

When Satan came before the Lord again, the Lord said to Satan: “there is no one on earth like him; he is blameless and upright, a man who fears God and shuns evil. And he still maintains his integrity, though you incited me against him to ruin him without any reason.”

Satan: “Skin for skin! A man will give all he has for his own life. But stretch out your hand and strike his flesh and bones, and he will surely curse you to your face.”

God: “Very well, then, he is in your hands; but you must spare his life.”

So Satan went out and afflicted Job with painful sores from the soles of his feet to the top of his head. Then Job took a piece of broken pottery and scraped himself with it as he sat among the ashes. His wife said to him, “Are you still holding on to your integrity? Curse God and die!” Job said, “You are talking like a foolish woman. Shall we accept good from God, and not trouble?”

Throughout the whole book of Job in the Bible, you will find that he did not curse God at all. In fact, in the end God made Job prosperous again and gave him twice as much as he had before.

For you all Christians, we all know that this world is not eternal. Our suffering on this earth will end soon when we finally die physically but live spiritually with our Lord in the heavens above :) We should continue to live for the Lord and sometimes sacrifice gratification and pleasure, and our selfish ambitions. No one said it would be easy, but it will be a challenge.

So hold on to your virtues and let nothing move you. Do not feel that you are suffering in vain and doing good for nothing, because in Hebrews 6:10, the apostle Paul said, “God is not unjust; he will not forget your work and the love you have shown Him as you have helped his people and continue to help them. We want each of you to show this same diligence to the very end, in order to make your hope sure.”

Well, that’s all I’d like to share for now. Haiz… today’s my birthday. And it freaking sucks :( I wanna enjoy it!