GLORY BE TO THE TRIUNE GOD
Dearly Beloved,
Greetings to you all in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ.
Our life in Christ is a precious gift, and God calls us to live in faith. However, life often takes unexpected turns, and despite our best efforts, we face disappointment and hardship. In these moments, we may question why God allows suffering—whether in sickness, financial struggles, or natural disasters. But as Christians, we must reflect on how we should respond in such times of trial.
The story of Job provides profound lessons. Though described as blameless and upright, fearing God and shunning evil, Job endured tremendous loss. He lost everything one after another—his wealth, health, and family. People laughed at him for his faith in God. Yet Job's deep trust in God never wavered. At the peak of his sufferings, he declared, “For I know that my Redeemer lives” (Job 19:25). He was transformed internally and realised the providence of God in his life. In the end, God restored Job’s fortunes, blessing him with more than he had before.
The life of Joseph from the Old Testament similarly demonstrates God’s unseen plans in the face of hardship. From seventeen to thirty years of his life, Joseph endured betrayal by his brothers, slavery, and years of imprisonment. From the outside, it seemed his life was a total failure. But God had a larger purpose—to raise Joseph to a position of leadership and save many lives during the famine. The Psalmist affirms this, saying, "The Lord tested Joseph’s character, and then set him free" (Psalm 105:18-21). What seemed like failure was, in fact, preparation for Joseph’s future greatness.
In the New Testament, we see similar themes. When the disciples asked Jesus after witnessing the healing of the blind man, why he was born blind, Jesus responded that it was “so that God’s work might be revealed in him” (John 9:3). This teaches us that some suffering has a divine purpose, allowing God’s glory to be revealed through healing or restoration.
As Christians, we may feel lost during difficult times, but we must trust that God’s plan is at work. Psalm 139:5 reminds us that God surrounds us, laying His hand upon us. Every challenge is an opportunity for growth, strengthening our faith and resilience. When we look back on our lives, we see how God has brought us through trials and blessed us beyond what we could imagine.
May we trust God’s purpose in every hardship and remain steadfast in faith.
GOD Bless us all.
