Troubling, Testing, and Trust – The Presidential Prayer Team

Though he slay me, I will hope in him. – Job 13:15

What do you do when troubles come? Job was a man with a family, enjoying his prosperity. One day was probably like another, dealing with servants, keeping track of his assets, and making good deals. Then, unexpectedly, he lost it all! This was not about bad investments or improper accounting—it was a test that God allowed the devil to bring on him. In one 24-hour period, everything he had worked for his whole life was gone. He was left with only his wife AND an abiding faith in God.

Then, disaster struck his own body. He broke out in boils and his physical suffering was severe. His friends probably came with good intentions to console, but their advice was not what Job needed. Despite everything, Job kept faith in God, and God remained faithful to Job. Though the “bottom had fallen out” for Job, he looked up and voiced his trust in the Lord… with hope for a different tomorrow. At the end of the troubles, testing, and trust, Job triumphed.

So what do you do when troubles come? Can you trust that God knows what He is doing? Do you trust Paul’s assurance to the Romans, “We know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose” (Romans 8:28)? The old hymn says, “Troubles may come and troubles may go. We trust in Jesus. He loves us so.” So let your heart keep the faith. Pray for members of Congress who are undergoing illness, grieving the deaths of loved ones, and other challenges. Ask that the Lord draws their hearts to Him for consolation.

Today’s Verse: Job 13:15

Though he slay me, I will hope in him;
    yet I will argue my ways to his face.

All Scripture quotations and audio are from the ESV® Bible (The Holy Bible, English Standard Version®), copyright © 2001 by Crossway, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. Used by permission. All rights reserved.

Recommended for further reading: 2 Corinthians 4:7-18

⁷But we have this treasure in jars of clay, to show that the surpassing power belongs to God and not to us. ⁸We are afflicted in every way, but not crushed; perplexed, but not driven to despair; ⁹persecuted, but not forsaken; struck down, but not destroyed; ¹⁰always carrying in the body the death of Jesus, so that the life of Jesus may also be manifested in our bodies. ¹¹For we who live are always being given over to death for Jesus’ sake, so that the life of Jesus also may be manifested in our mortal flesh. ¹²So death is at work in us, but life in you.

¹³Since we have the same spirit of faith according to what has been written, “I believed, and so I spoke,” we also believe, and so we also speak, ¹⁴knowing that he who raised the Lord Jesus will raise us also with Jesus and bring us with you into his presence. ¹⁵For it is all for your sake, so that as grace extends to more and more people it may increase thanksgiving, to the glory of God.

¹⁶So we do not lose heart. Though our outer self is wasting away, our inner self is being renewed day by day. ¹⁷For this light momentary affliction is preparing for us an eternal weight of glory beyond all comparison, ¹⁸as we look not to the things that are seen but to the things that are unseen. For the things that are seen are transient, but the things that are unseen are eternal.