While listening to a recent sermon from one of my former professors at Biola University, Professor Clay Jones, I was struck by a phrase he used: “your finest hour.”1 As Professor Jones explained our finest hour is when we still honor God even when we get life shattering news. When we go through trials and sufferings we can either complain to God and get bitter or praise and thank God, despite the negative situation, and defeat Satan.
Scripture tells us in (1 Thessalonians 5:18): “in everything give thanks; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.” Did you know that it is God’s will to always have a thankful heart and that even when we go through sufferings and hardships we can honor God by having a thankful and joyous attitude. My friends it’s easy to thank God when things are going well but the sign of a mature Christian is can he still maintain this attitude when his world is rocked.
In the book of Job, we see that Job was just such a man who trusted in God and held on to his integrity despite having to endure life shattering hardships. Satan believed that the only reason Job was faithful to God was because God had blessed Job in so many ways. Despite Satan being given permission to take away Job’s possessions, his children, and even his health Job gave God honor by holding on to his integrity and trust in God thus defeated Satan. In perhaps one of the most powerful statements on trusting God in all of Scripture, Job uttered: “Though He slay me, yet will I trust Him…” (Job 13:15).
In the book of Job, we see the ultimate cosmic battle between God and Satan and how Job defeated Satan by trusting in God even when his world was turned upside-down. I love how God introduces us to the battle when He shares: “Then the Lord said to Satan, ‘Have you considered My servant Job, that there is none like him on the earth, a blameless and upright man, one who fears God and shuns evil? And still he holds fast to his integrity, although you incited Me against him, to destroy him without cause.’” (Job 2:3). And we, like Job, can also defeat Satan when we trust and praise God when suffering and trials come our way.
When a trial comes our way, we need to reflect on (Romans 8:28) which says: “And we know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are the called according to His purpose.” When we really believe this, we can rejoice in our sufferings because we know that God has a divine purpose in allowing them. And through the trial God is giving us the opportunity to defeat Satan by trusting Him to pull us through.
When we endure sufferings and hardships we not only honor God but it shows we really trust Him and are more concerned about advancing His kingdom than our own comfort. So, the next time a heavy trial comes your way trust God to pull you through and thereby glorify His name. While Satan is already a defeated foe it’s good to keep reminding him that he has no power over us when we let Jesus fight our battles. Trials and suffering are inevitable in this life but when we view them as opportunities to glory God they can also prove to be the instruments that God uses to bring us much joy.
1 Sermon dated June 12, 2022: Sunday Messages | Vineyard Yorba Linda (vineyardoforange.com)