Experiencing God's Goodness in the Midst of Trial

Pretend with me for a moment. You have a career. You’re not just any employee, you’re well liked, dependable, approachable, and coachable. In two days, your boss, who loves you, is going to congratulate you on a pay raise because the work you’ve done over the past month has made you an asset to the company and deserving of a pay raise.

You also attend a church whose values line up with yours, and the community you surround yourself with is also a big part of this church. In addition, this church you attend has a hipster name, like Gethsemane, and serves coffee before every service. It’s obviously a highly-favored church with a name like Gethsemane.

Moving to your friend group. Most of your tight-knit circle is from church, with the exception of a few coworkers and friends from the weekend tennis club you joined last month. Because of your vibrant personality, you make friends quickly because you are so well liked. Thanks to Instagram, your spouse is well liked too, and you have to set reminders on your phone to ensure the topic does not revolve around him in all conversations with your friends.

Ok, you get the gist. You have a good life. You have the kind of life that allows you to play cornhole at a BBQ you hosted for your church-going Christian friends while also setting aside enough time to minister to your work friends, see your mentor on a weekly basis, attend a small group led by an elder of the church you go to, and go on some quality time dates with your spouse. There’s a lot of good going on that even your best friend would have to go deep sea diving to find something wrong with your life.

But say something did go wrong. For the sake of the point, we’re not going to list the endless possibilities and combinations of what could derail a perfect life. What do you do when something disrupts it?

Unfortunately, it is often the case that the God we praise on Sunday mornings quickly becomes the subject of attack. Suddenly, the God we discuss at 7pm Tuesday night “Life Group” becomes the Customer Service Complaint Center. Worse, our prayers turn into temper tantrums that would make any bystander question your friendship with God to begin with.

Does this sound too harsh? Unfortunately, even if these situation are not spot on, they set an example for how we treat God when our faith in him is put to the test. When we behave like this, we step off the rocky foundation our house should be built on (Matthew 7:24). We even sometimes look up at the house we built on the rock, shake our finger at it, and start building sandcastles below it. Once the waves crash in, we pout, whine, moan and groan as if the house we built our life on during the good times does not exist.

My dad would always address my stormy seasons with John 16:33 growing up: “In this world, you will have trouble. But take heart, I have overcome the world.” He would address me and my hard times with this Bible verse because he knew there was something greater we had in Jesus. Our friendship with Jesus is the house built on rock. Any time we take our eyes off Jesus during any personal crisis, epidemic, or pandemic which might stir up fear and doubt, we start building new houses on sand without God. The harsh reality is that some of us who say we are Christians during “Christmastime” seasons are waging war with God during the “Stormy” seasons. To that I say, “Choose a side!” If you accept God into your heart during the good, this does not automatically withhold you from experiencing pain; what it does do is give you a place of refuge in the midst of the battles, storms, and painful seasons of life. It give you a place to stand when the Devil commands you to sit. It give you a house to reside in whose foundation rests on a rock where no storm can wipe it out.

And when we build our house on the rock, we are building it upon the truth of God, in the good and bad seasons of life. In the seasons where we feel like our world is being flipped upside down and during seasons of victory. John Piper wrote a book during the COVID-19 pandemic of 2020 called, Coronavirus and Christ. In it, he asserts, “Our heart says ‘yes! We have tasted and seen’ [that the Lord is good (Psalm 34:8)]…the knowing is well founded. We are not leaping in the dark.” The firm foundation built on rock is tasting and seeing the Lord is good no matter how our seasons pan out. Why? Because our firm foundation is ‘well founded.’

During my troubles, dad emphasized the fact that the world’s troubles will never amount to the love and care we have in Jesus. In Jesus, we are cared for beyond any trouble that will come our way. In this world, we will always come out victorious, even if it feels like we have lost too much. The first part of John 16:33 is equally applicable: “I have told you these things so that you may have peace.” When do we need the most peace? When we’re feeling anxious, scared, and filled with worry! When do we have anxiety and fear? In the midst of our personal storms. Our personal storms are when we need the peace of God to “transcend all understanding…so that [his peace] will guard your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus” (Philippians 4:7). The peace of God, which has overcome the world, is the rock which we build our foundation on. In fact, we know that God’s peace is a major part of our foundation because that is what Jesus left us with before he ascended to heaven after his resurrection: “I am leaving you with a gift – peace of mind and heart. And the peace I give you is a gift the world cannot give” (John 14:27). We can weather any storm with this gift. “Live or die, you will be with [God]…this is a firm rock under my feet. It is not fragile, not sand,” Piper writes in his book. Much like building our foundation on rock, the rock represents knowing God is in control whether we live or die. “Live or die, you will be with me” is having the peace of mind in the here and now because his will is for us to be with and him with us; that he loves us and will protect us at all costs.

Where this is illustrated perfectly, in a small yet profound moment, is in Genesis 22, when Abraham starts one of his days with an interesting command from God. “Take your son, your only son, whom you love…Sacrifice him there as a burnt offering on a mountain I will show you.” ‘Interesting’ is a word that does not even do justice to describe the magnitude of that request. It is interesting enough for God to command any father to kill his son, but at this point in the Bible story, God is asking Abraham to sacrifice the one son he blessed Sarah and Abraham with at old age.

The absurdity of this command has multiple layers. First, what kind of loving God would ask you to sacrifice a young child, let alone your own child whom you love deeply? Second, Abraham and Sarah gave birth to Isaac after a long life without children together. Isaac was the only child given to the both of them by God, and right when you thought the layers of this command couldn’t make it more otherworldly than it already is, Abraham and Sarah were around 100 years old when they finally had a child to call their own (Genesis 21:1-7).

So, when Genesis 22 does not waste any time introducing us with God telling Abraham to replace the animal sacrifices with his son Isaac, it makes you wonder what was actually going through Abraham’s mind when the very next verse explains that he went straight to loading his donkey the following morning (see Genesis 22:3) in preparation to sacrifice his only son as a burnt offering.

Does Abraham ever think, Yeah God, I’m going to have to pass on that, or Am I hearing you correctly God? We can only infer that Abraham’s obedience to God is a measure of the level of faith he has that God can be trusted. “Faith had taught him not to argue, but to obey,” Matthew Henry writes in his commentary of Genesis 22. Faith is the assurance that what “God commands is good.” Do our strong trials exercise our strong faith and trust in God, or does it bring forth doubt, defiance, and lack of reverence?

Sometimes, our faith and assurance in the goodness of God must extend beyond one moment and one season. The trip to Moriah that God commanded Abraham to go to was not a three hour hike. According to Genesis 22:4, it was the third day of Abraham and Isaac’s journey before he even saw the place where Isaac would be sacrificed. By day three, Abraham only saw the place, so it had to have taken more than three days to get there. Regardless of whether it took three days or more, Matthew Henry concludes that three days symbolized a “time to consider and might deliberately obey.”

Whether you are waiting for a life-long partner, moving on from heartbreak, a pandemic to end, a secure career to line up in your favor, moving into a stable living condition, a three day trip to Moriah looks quite different to you. Whatever your season looks like, in your moments of uncertainty and time of deliberation, do you still hold true to the promises of God? Do you still believe God’s goodness will reign supreme? In the three day journey, God could have stopped Abraham and said, “Don’t do it! Don’t kill your son!” In the three days, Abraham could have argued with God, telling him, “If you’re a good God, you would provide a sheep to take the place of Isaac!”

We do that with God. Often, our prayers sound more like courtroom accusations than an act of faith and reverence to the Lord’s will. We question his authority and sovereignty as if our bitter words will jolt him out of his apathetic attitude towards humanity and force him to do something that aligns with our desires. We don’t trust God’s narrative, so we label him a lazy, untrustworthy God for not changing it for our benefit. At best, we give God the silent treatment until he is worthy of praise.

But what if, instead of trying to force God to change his narrative through fighting words, we trusted in the promises of God throughout his narrative? Take a look at how Abraham responds when his son asks him about the sacrifice:

“Isaac turned to Abraham and said, ‘Father?’

‘Yes, my son?’

‘We have the fire and the wood,’ the boy said, ‘but where is the sheep for the burnt offering?’

‘God will provide a sheep for the burnt offering, my son…’”

This dialogue between father and son is so powerful because it is the definition of faith and trust within the story. God will provide. There is no time to argue with God, so in my obedience, I will trust that God knows best. This is Abraham’s mindset towards God. Abraham only knew that he was supposed to kill his son. He did not yet know God would provide an animal sacrifice to replace Isaac. But faith knew. Faith in the goodness of God knew. The story ends with God providing a ram for Abraham to take the place of Isaac so he wouldn’t have to die. Furthermore, Abraham is blessed beyond measure for his faith that God would spare Isaac. “Because you have obeyed me and have not withheld even your son, your only son, I swear by my own name that I will certainly bless you” (Gen. 22:16-17). And bless Abraham he did; with a number of descendants so great, Abraham couldn’t even count them.

Not once did Abraham question God, argue with God, or belittle God in this passage because of faith and a knowledge of God’s character. There is something powerful about standing true to what you know about God and not letting circumstances interfere with how you see him.

Your faith, trust, and reverence towards God should be the most important aspect of each season. Your circumstances shouldn’t determine your view of God; your allegiance to God should be the lens you view your circumstances through. Let the character of God guide you through the pay raises and the heartbreaks of life. Allow the Holy Spirit to guide you, whether your life is viewed as flawless or you’ve hit rock bottom. The goodness of God does not change because circumstances do. No matter which direction your life is headed, let God be the consistent beacon of hope in every season, because he is a perfect God who will guide us through every troubling experience we face.

What your belief and trust in God will do is allow you to overcome every obstacle that stands in your way because your faith is grounded in a powerful God who can help you weather any storm. You are armed with peace, understanding, patience, and strength when you press into the goodness of God and not let your current situation define the sovereignty of God. With God, all things are possible, and you can rest in knowing that no storm is too big for him.

Check out this video link that explains my view on COVID-19 and Genesis 22

How to Counterattack the Devil - Pt. I

Though times have changed since the resurrection of Jesus, one thing remains true: Satan will not stop doing what he can to disrupt the connection we have with God the Father and disable us from living out our influence to further his Kingdom for his glory. I have never heard Satan tell me to turn the rocks into bread or throw myself off a cliff so I can demonstrate my own power to save myself. However, Satan does come after us in other ways: lust, worry, greed, laziness, mistreatment of those around us, pride, selfishness, jealousy. If I can just get Josh stuck, even if it’s temporary, I could convince him to permanently walk away from this so called ‘freedom in Christ’ he is embracing. That’s Satan’s goal. Since he cannot eliminate God, he will do what he can to eliminate God from our hearts and minds. A day without God is a victory for Satan, and he’s been at work since before Jesus’ birth.

In Job 1, when Satan approaches God and challenges him, God tells him he can put Job to the test, “…Do whatever you want with everything he possesses, but don’t harm him physically” (v. 12). What does Satan do? He tries to prove to God that Job will lose faith in God once all of his possessions are gone. It’s almost as if Satan says to God, “I don’t need to make him walk away from you, he will do that himself; watch.” All in one chapter (Job 1), Job’s possessions are taken from him: first, the animals are stolen. Second, sheep and shepherds are burned up. Third, servants get killed, and camels get stolen. And, to end chapter one, the fifth thing Satan strips from Job are his kids after the house collapsed on them. Yet, through all of this Job did not sin against God. When Satan approached God again, God once again told Satan about Job, this blameless man of integrity and great fear of the Lord. What did the Devil do? He struck Job with boils from head to toe; it was so bad, even Job’s wife told him to ‘curse God and die’ (Job 2:9). 

From that moment forward, Job’s friends come to him with their theories about why Job’s life has become an utter disaster. We know why, but his friends are oblivious. One friend says, “Do not despise the discipline of the Almighty when you sin” (Job 5:17), and the same friend also says, “If God does not trust his own angels and has charged his messengers with foolishness, how much less will he trust people made of clay?” (Job 4:18) Keep in mind, this foolish friend is still referring to the same man who God called “the finest man in all of the Earth…”,  “Blameless”, “a man of complete integrity…”, “fears God and stays away from evil” (Job 1:8). But friend number one does not stop there! He even calls Job out on being a sinner who God trusts less than the angels! Job has two more friends ready to provide their own wisdom on the matter. Friend number two, Bildad,  calls Job “an ungodly, wicked man, [who] was unjust and uncharitable” (according to Matthew Henry’s commentary/translation), and that Job was justly punished for his ungodliness. Friend three is not any better in his reproving of Job. Among other reproofs, Zophar theorizes that Job is a hypocrite unless his possessions are restored. To Zophar, a wealth of possessions meant you had righteous favor with God, so if they are removed from Job, not to be returned, he must be a hypocrite. In addition, Zophar encourages Job to repent, even though we know the reasoning behind Satan’s attacks.

All three perspectives shared by his three friends are abhorrently false, and it should be noted that if they condemned Job with false allegations and incorrect assertions, did they really comfort him in his time of need? Worse, did they encourage Job to trust in God? At this point, Satan must love the misinformation Job’s friends are feeding him because confusion can often separate us from the Truth of who God is, which is Satan’s ultimate goal. The three friends, with or without knowing it, have added to the confusion that Job might already be experiencing, and when all is said and done, it is Job’s conversation with the Lord that brings clarity and understanding to the situation. Near the end of the book of Job, it is God’s turn to respond, and he starts with this:

“Who is this that questions my wisdom with such ignorant words? Brace yourself like a man, because I have some questions for you, and you must answer them.” (Job 38:2)

Can we call a full timeout here? If you ever need a reminder of God’s sovereignty, go to this verse. We all know God is omniscient, so he is not required to ask Job anything. God does not answer to Job, because God does not lack wisdom. However, do you recall Job 1 and 2? God publicly boasts about Job in front of the angels and Satan. Job 1:6 says, “One day, the angels came to present themselves before the Lord, and Satan also came with them.” Following Job 1:6, God tells Satan what an incredible man Job is. So, God has his reputation on the line too, yet he allows Job to live up to the reputation God gave him. When Job complains and compares his present afflictions to his former glory in Job 30, it is the opposite of the behavior God brags to Satan about. I believe God shows Job tough love in chapters 38-42 because Job is living below the standard that God empowered him to live! It’s almost as if God is saying, “You are blameless and full of integrity; the finest man in the land! Don’t lower your standards when I have empowered you to live with boldness!” Before Job goes any further, God does not cut corners and gives him perspective on who he is:

“Where were you when I laid the foundations of the earth?” (Job 38:4)

“Do you know where the gates of death are located? Have you seen the gates of utter gloom? Do you realize the extent of the earth? Tell me about it if you know!” (Job 38:17-18)

“Who gives the wild donkey its freedom? Who untied its ropes?” (Job 39:5)

“Have you given the horse its strength or clothed its back with a flowing mane?” (Job 39:19)

“Is it your wisdom that makes the hawk soar and spread its wings toward the south?” (Job 39:26)

God continues asking Job hypothetical questions like these; questions that point back to His power.

Then, the Almighty God finishes the first challenge with this:

“Do you still want to argue with the Almighty? You are God’s critic, but do you have the answers?” (Job 40:2)

There is more in God’s second challenge to Job, where God talks to him about the strength of the two colossal creatures, the Behemoth and Leviathan, and goes on an epic monologue about only giving Job praise if his “own strength could save you” (Job 40:14). Spoiler alert: Job’s own strength cannot save him, and God knows this.

Shortly after God puts Job in his place, Job humbly approaches God to verbally declare his sovereignty. Once God sees Job’s repentant spirit and humble heart, he not only reprimanded Job’s friends and commanded them to pay Job with bulls and rams (Job 42:7-8), but He also “restored his fortunes” and “gave him twice as much as before” (Job 42:10).

As a result, we can look at Job’s story as a lesson in never losing perspective of God’s sovereignty and wisdom in times of crisis; in this case, in situations where Satan stands ready to attack. Job’s possessions were restored to him after he recognized his position compared to God’s. When we limit God’s power and authority, we open our heart to deception from the Devil. Satan wants to divide us from reassurance in the true King.

The greatest shield that will protect us from the Enemy is intimacy with and trust in God Almighty. Not only does intimacy with God give us eternal clarity, but it gives us hope and trust in a higher power as we navigate through troubled waters. Our faith in the power of God will remove us from any temptation and stabilize us under the protection of His love. It is promised that we will be given wisdom if we ask God for it (James 1:5) and that, if we “come boldly to the throne of our gracious God…we will receive his mercy, and we will find grace to help us when we need it most” (Hebrews 4:16).

Will you seek our Heavenly Father first, as it says in Matthew 6:33? Will you ask for wisdom in the midst of the darkness where Satan lurks? Even Job’s friends could not provide Job with wisdom, yet God is a merciful, loving Father who approached Job and restored to him all that was lost.

We don’t have to wait like Job did; we shouldn’t whine, complain, and wallow in self-pity before God reminds of who we are in Him. We can boldly approach God immediately, no matter the circumstances. We can rest in the unchanging power of God as a resource during desperate times.

If we fill our hearts with faith, hope, and praise to God for who He is, we can overcome the attacks of Satan, because our greatest counterattack is resting in the one who made the Behemoth strong and mighty, who commanded the sun to set and the moon to rise, who gives the “donkey his freedom” and “horse its strength.” Will you trust in the all-sufficient protector who keeps the “sea inside its boundaries”, knows where “the gates of death are located”, and “sends rain to satisfy the parched ground”?

God thinks you should. Satan may throw trouble your way, but this God we serve is mighty to save. Go to him, and the trouble you endure will turn to dust in the palm of His hand.

Seeing Through the Struggle: The Gift of Generosity

God is closer than we think sometimes. Just as we might call on our dad to pick us up when the '97 Corolla won't start, call on mom when we need a simple recipe, or when you call on your best friend when you need some company to make it through a rough week, God is readily available when you need him. Unfortunately, we don't think God is as accessible when our trials seem bigger than him, but before Jesus went to be with God the Father in Heaven, he made a promise to his disciples in John 16:24:
"Until now you have not asked for anything in my name. Ask and you will receive, and your joy will be complete." - John 16:24

Here, Jesus is reassuring his followers that he is providing a new way of access to God before he leaves Earth. Before you are showered with reasons why it is in your best interest to ask God for things, in his name of course, let's look further at the context of this verse:

Jesus is talking to the disciples because he overhears them murmuring about how he is going back to be with the Father. Sensing their apprehension, Jesus reminds the disciples that their grieving will soon turn to joy. That's right! This verse deals with disciples worrying that Jesus' departure will cause much pain and sadness. We know the disciples are worrying about Jesus leaving Earth to be with the father because Jesus references the disciples sadness and trial in this moment in verse 22.

Just like the disciples grieving over the loss of Jesus in physical form, trials often take on the disguise of something good being taken from us, whether it be a loved one, a possession we once had, and/or an intangible being taken, like happiness, peace, and hope. The disciples' were justified to feel the grief and sorrow upon losing a dear friend, but Jesus reminds them to look ahead to the fulfilling of Scripture and how his departure is part of a bigger plan. Though the sorrow may last for a moment, this grieving will be replaced with joy (v. 22). Yet, from the perspective of the disciples, it looks like God is taking Jesus away from them. Sounds like a perfect recipe for grieving and deep sadness. However, God has plenty in store for the disciples, and it comes in the form of the Holy Spirit.

Earlier in John (chapter 14), Jesus promises the disciples that "Whoever believes in me will do the works I have been doing, and they will do even greater things than these, because I am going to the Father. And I will do whatever you ask in my name..." (John 14:12-13).  Though Jesus' departure could be seen as painful, greater things are coming because of it. In fact, John 14:26 says, "...the Advocate, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, will teach you all the things and remind you of everything I have said to you." Though Jesus was going, he was leaving behind part of himself to the disciples (and to us!) that would continue the plan God has. In fact, Jesus says in John 14:27, "Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you... Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid."

Now, God's will for you isn't to go through pain (see John 10:10 - don't confuse the Savior's job with the Devil's job), but good will come of the pain (Genesis 50:19). Ultimately, our focus should be on what God can and will do through the struggle.

But, what does the disciples' grieving over Jesus departure and him leaving us with the Holy Spirit have to do with asking God for anything in his name?
For one, God has an incredible plan, and he will use those trials to achieve the plan and purpose. Even though we go through trials throughout our earthly existence, God has a plan through it, and that plan is worth trusting. He had a plan even after Jesus left to be with him, and he continues to have a plan when we experience pain like the disciples did. When we ask God for anything in his name, we are trusting him to do what he does: give in abundance - it's part of his plan.
Let's go back to John 16:24: "Until now you have not asked for anything in my name. Ask and you will receive, and your joy will be complete."
According to this verse, God has gifted us with his generosity. He gives us what we ask for, including joy. When we ask in his name, we receive. We receive an abundance of blessing in the midst of struggle. We receive a helper, the Holy Spirit, and we receive peace.

When we ask in his name, it implies that our hearts are in alignment with his will. His will is perfect (Romans 12:2), so if we ask for what is in alignment with his will, we will receive it. According to Matthew Henry Commentary on this verse, “Asking in Christ’s name, is acknowledging our unworthiness to receive any favors, and shows full dependence upon Christ…” This also means that asking in Christ’s name comes with a price: humility. When we humbly accept that all good things come from God, and the things that feed the Spirit (not the flesh, like a sports car or $1m) come from him, we receive them because he is generous and good. When we ask in his name, we are asking for things that God is in the business of giving – so when we ask for the things he gives, he will give it. If we ask for prosperity through hardships, he will give it to you because you are asking for a spiritual blessing that God is in the business of giving. He knows what is good for the heart (see 1 Samuel 16:7), and it’s the heart where all good things flow (Proverbs 4:23). He desires to give us supernatural freedom and prosperity, and when we are open to receiving the supernatural from him, he pours those gifts into our existence. As we ask, he downloads his perspective, his heart, and his will into your heart and mind. We begin to think the way he thinks because we are in the humble position to do so. Asking God in his name means we are considering his plan and the way he gives, not to satisfy our flesh, but to build us up in Spirit. Therefore, when we ask, God knows how to give us exactly what we need, even if we are asking for the wrong thing in the moment. The disciples experienced this with Jesus while he was on Earth.

In John 14 and 16, Jesus encouraged the disciples before his departure to be with God. In the midst of trial, Jesus reminded them that he is leaving something behind (the Holy Spirit, as well as peace) - part of God's plan. In other words, Jesus knew what the disciples needed. They need peace and joy, which Jesus later promises them (John 14:27). The disciples didn't even ask, yet Jesus knew! How much more will God give in times of trial when we ask him directly! The disciples received, so that their joy would be complete! And remember: grieving is not a bad thing. Jesus even says, "Now is your time of grief, but I will see you again, and no one will take away your joy." Jesus promises that their joy will be complete through the process of grieving; grieving is not eternal, but joy will be!

Do this: Memorize John 14:27 in moments of trial. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid. Why? Jesus gives you peace, and much, much more. We know he gives because of John 16:24. Ask and you will receive. Identify what God is in the business of giving by getting to know his heart, then start asking! Watch him give!