Behind those accusations and trials . . .

Exodus 5; Job 22; Luke 8; 1 Corinthians 9

Satan does not like it when Christians pray in faith and in the will of God. He is sneaky in his attempts to stop those prayers and is often successful by sending trials to sidetrack those who pray. He also uses accusations:

And I heard a loud voice in heaven, saying, “Now the salvation and the power and the kingdom of our God and the authority of his Christ have come, for the accuser of our brothers has been thrown down, who accuses them day and night before our God. (Revelation 12:10)

The enemy’s accusations can come through other people. This morning’s reading in Job shows how strong were the words of accusation thrown at this righteous man:

Is not your evil abundant? There is no end to your iniquities. For you have exacted pledges of your brothers for nothing and stripped the naked of their clothing. You have given no water to the weary to drink, and you have withheld bread from the hungry. The man with power possessed the land, and the favored man lived in it. You have sent widows away empty, and the arms of the fatherless were crushed. Therefore snares are all around you, and sudden terror overwhelms you, or darkness, so that you cannot see, and a flood of water covers you. (Job 22:5–11)

None of this was true, but coupled with the trial of losing everything, including his health, Job was devastated. On top of that, God did not reveal to him what was behind his losses or those accusations. At this point, he had no idea that his faith was being tested.

Yet faith overcomes accusations. God can even use them to build our faith as we learn to fight the enemy’s lies with what God reveals to be true.

The enemy’s other tactic is to throw trials at God’s people. As I trust Him, a painful or difficult event can challenge my trust. As with accusations, trials may also come to us through other people. When God’s people tried to escape bondage in Egypt, Pharaoh determined to make their lives miserable and keep them from doing what God had planned for them.

Then they said, “The God of the Hebrews has met with us. Please let us go a three days’ journey into the wilderness that we may sacrifice to the Lord our God, lest he fall upon us with pestilence or with the sword.” But the king of Egypt said to them, “Moses and Aaron, why do you take the people away from their work? Get back to your burdens.” And Pharaoh said, “Behold, the people of the land are now many, and you make them rest from their burdens!” The same day Pharaoh commanded the taskmasters of the people and their foremen, “You shall no longer give the people straw to make bricks, as in the past; let them go and gather straw for themselves. But the number of bricks that they made in the past you shall impose on them, you shall by no means reduce it, for they are idle. Therefore they cry, ‘Let us go and offer sacrifice to our God.’ Let heavier work be laid on the men that they may labor at it and pay no regard to lying words.” (Exodus 5:3–9)

God is wise. He uses trials to build our faith as well:

Count it all joy, my brothers, when you meet trials of various kinds, for you know that the testing of your faith produces steadfastness. And let steadfastness have its full effect, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing. (James 1:2–4)

When trials are over, I am a stronger person in my ability to trust God — no matter what is going on. When my sister died and I began praying about the funeral she wanted, a virus left me with a constant cough but I kept praying. Other things happened but the worst was a nosebleed that would not stop. I kept praying, even witnessing to medical people. As soon as the funeral was over (and exceeded above and beyond all my requests) the trials stopped. At least for a little while.

God tells me to not be anxious about trials or accusations, just press on. Let them be part of what forms the life of Christ in me . . .

Do you not know that in a race all the runners run, but only one receives the prize? So run that you may obtain it. Every athlete exercises self-control in all things. They do it to receive a perishable wreath, but we an imperishable. So I do not run aimlessly; I do not box as one beating the air. But I discipline my body and keep it under control, lest after preaching to others I myself should be disqualified. (1 Corinthians 9:24–27)

Apply: Press on. Today, I press on. I nearly caved yesterday, but in the end kept praying. Whatever is in store, God is faithful and will carry me through.