Whenever we experience a bad patch in life we cannot understand, we ask God “why we are going through it? Why, God do you let us go through this experience?” We may seek a biblical or theological reason like this bad experience Is it a test of our faith or our strength. Like Job whose several buddies did him no good in their attempts at rational thought, we may see our suffering simply as something that we creatures will never be able to understand because we are not God, the creator. At least that seems to be the “answer” in the last chapters of the book of Job.

               

In 1 Corinthians Paul seems to say that these experiences are times of testing. Even more importantly God will not allow us to be tested beyond what we are able to endure. What does this really mean? The “bad patch” of difficulty will not overcome our faith. Or, God will give us the strength to endure the time of testing when it comes. As Paul writes in Romans 8, “we will be more than conquerors through God’s love.”

               

No one really wants to be tested. Still, as a student who took exam after exam in almost thirty years of education, I remember feeling very good when I passed exams that were very hard for me. In completing an advanced degree after almost ten years out of school, I looked at these tests as hurdles that like a track athlete I had to jump over one at a time until I emerged at the end a finisher. And although I was tempted many times to give up, I felt very proud when I did not. God was with me all the way helping to complete my goal.

             

I discovered that God is faithful and holds us up when we are tested. I hope and pray that as you look at the next stages ahead, you will find ways to divide those stages up into hurdles, and to realize that looking back God has already enabled you to get this far in he race. Certainly God is faithful and will provide the way out so that you may be able to endure this bad patch.” Ultimately together, with God’s help, we can get over even this large hurdle, and finish the race of faith

Let us pray. “Faithful God help us to remember that when we are tested, we can look to you for strength. Amen.”

                                                                                                               

Pastor Roger Black