Job 2

“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, NKJV)

In a single day, Job lost everything materially and even his sons and daughters. I cannot begin to relate to suffering on this level! But Job did not sin nor charge God with wrongdoing. He held fast to his integrity. He passed the first test.

We have the advantage of watching this drama unfold while knowing what was happening in the heavenly scene. But Job did not have this perspective. He knew that God had allowed these things, but he didn’t know why. The same is true for us when we go through trials. We don’t know why God is allowing them. But God tells us in Romans 8:28-30 that He is working all things together for good for those who love Him and are called according to His purpose. And what is that? God’s purpose is that we will be conformed to the image of His Son. He allows circumstances in our lives to make us more like Jesus, who learned obedience from the things that He suffered (Hebrews 5:8).

In all these things Job continued to hold fast to his integrity. The LORD was right about him. Even when he lost everything, Job still feared God and shunned evil.

But the tests weren’t over just yet. Now God gave Satan permission to attack Job with painful boils all over his body. At this point even Job’s wife said to him, “Do you still hold fast to your integrity? Curse God and die!” When we suffer, it affects the people around us. Still, in all this Job did not sin with his lips. He passed the second test.

Certainly, God allows tests and temptations in all our lives. Satan wants us to doubt God and sin. But God wants us to grow stronger and become more like Christ. The next time something happens that either tests your patience or tempts you to sin, ask the Lord, “How can I hold fast to my integrity through this? What would you have me do?” This is the way we turn trials into gold.