Do trials in life make faith grow stronger, or do they weaken it?

Question

I remember being raised with the biblical story of longsuffering Job, who was tested and then rewarded by reason of his great faith. I also resent the fact that I was taught this story.

The idea gleaned by Christianity from this is that faith is rewarded. There are two things that I have to take this story to task for:

1.) It gives the implication of reward; that hardship in life shall be abundantly rewarded if one remains steadfast in their faith.

2.) It is an inherently flawed story; to my thinking, if God had really wanted to test Job's faith, he wouldn't have taken everything from him, leaving him with only faith in God to depend on. A real test of faith would be to have him given everything in the world. I'd like to see if Job felt so dependent on God then.

You can tell that I have a little bitterness towards this story. Anyway, what's your personal take on this? Is hardship in life conducive to increased faith? Do people hold on only for hope of reward?

Yeesang: I'm not a Christian, but an Atheist. I was, however, raised a Christian and remained one for the first 20 years of my life.

Answer 1

+PAX
Some of the trials in my life have been shockers but in those moments, I turned to my faith and trust in God which provided me with comfort and strength to go on.

Some trials in my life I have humbly asked God to give me in order to strengthen my relationship with his most Glorious Son and to share in his Passion.

Pride and self love is the root of all evil. Realizing that I am nothing without my Lord took some doing. I still puff up with pride every now and again....and do my penance for it. I love my Lord with my whole heart, soul and mind but it does not guarantee my entrance into Heaven as I still have free will. I can walk away from God and my vows at any time...just as Job could have, but didn't. He was stronger than that.

Sometimes God even removes Himself from us, no matter how good we are. It is called Aridity and it is the most horrible feeling-been there, done that. But I kept my faith and the Lord strengthened it through his absence. I hold on because I love God.

It's all very hard to understand, I know, but being a monastic helps me understand it a little better. Everyday, something new is shown to me or taught to me and it is wonderful!

Benedicite,
J

Answer 2

Exercising faith in God in the face of trials undoes what is inerently wrong with us in the first place - that by nature we do not trust God and think, as did Adam, that God has it in for us. He doesn't. The issue of trust is brought right to the surface when we find that we HAVE TO.

As far as tempting Job with having everything in the world, that was already the case - he was the richest man in the east, and he passed the test: he was righteous.

I would encourage you to look at the larger picture, and consider what your personal suffering, and enduring it as a Christian, might mean to someone else. After all, Job is still looked to 3,000 years later as an inspiration and encouragement of how to endure.

The suffering of a Christian serves as a lesson for the angels themselves (remember that some of them rebelled against God though they had seen Him?):
Eph 3:10 To the intent that now unto the principalities and powers in heavenly places might be known by the church the manifold wisdom of God,

In other words, you are part of God's justification for condemning them, if you hold fast. The best reward is to vindicate the One who loves us so and has been blasphemed in one way or another by everyone who has ever lived.

Suffering by having no home of my own in which to house my wife and five children, I remain

In Christ,
Tom

Answer 3

Actually, Job was given double what he had before. He was tested under the "worst case" scenario. I strongly believe that Job had the heart to be faithful in the "best case" scenario with the riches you described, as well.

It all depends on the person's heart. Job had a sincere love for GOD. He put his trust in GOD, no matter what.

Our life is just a speck of time. We seek for an eternal reward. If there is no eternal reward, what is to stop me from pursuing my greatest lust and desires? Such freedoms exist, but, at a heavy price.

Much more can be said.

GOD bless

Answer 4

I was also raised on stories like that. I guess i still have bitterness over a lot of them too. I never liked the Job story. I always thought that made god very cruel. You could never actually *say* that to anyone in church without being reminded that god was testing his faith, so that made it OK. But why would god even need to test Job's faith - why would he try? I just don't think it's a good story, and the so called moral is a bad one.

Answer 5

I used to feel the same way for poor Job, after all God Himself called attention to Job! I have poured over that particular book many times, and I usually brush up when someone I know is being tested to make sure I am not guilty of being one of "Job's comforters." According to the standards of the day, Job was a very rich man. He was also blessed with ten sons, and had land and animals that was a sign of his wealth. When the trials began, Job held on, whether there be a reward or not. His wife told him to curse God and die, but Job had come to the point of loving God more than his own life. Job pointed out that why should he only bless God when he had every thing going his way, and withdraw from God if he lost the things he had been given. He was a devout man, even praying specific prayers for any unconscious or small sin of his children. All was restored twofold to Job, but he loved God without knowing whether they would be restored. His story is given to us as an example of loving and trusting God through the best of times and the worst losses possible. Please speedread over the beginning of Job. He plainly was a man of great means and had every earthly thing he could possible desired, and thanked God daily for the life that he had.

Answer 6

1)...a common mistake. People misunderstand this to mean physical or monetary gains. When it means internal gains or spiritual growth. The promise is not you will never have hard times, the promise is you will not be overcome
2) Job was already rich and did have everything in the world to strive for. He was considered wealthy and bless with wonderful children

conclusion:
Yes there is reward to your faith if you endure. This reward is not contained to one area of a persons life. It affects both present and future. Keep in mind, the story of Job was not written for him but for us. Clearly there is a message we are to gain from what Job did and became in his faith
This is a very condense version since most people don't like to read long answers....lol

Answer 7

I can speak from my own experience. Ive been through a couple of periods in life when I had to fight the urge to attempt suicide. What got me through it was my own ability to problem solve and get to the root of my suffering, which was ultimately my own lack of understanding of how to live life. I believed in God during these times but looking back, trying to maintain that faith actually perpetuated my confusion. I eventually let go of my faith in God because it no longer fit with the knowledge I was gaining about the human condition. I understand your bitterness towards that story. Its stories like that that probably kept me believing for as long as I did.

Answer 8

Let's see Bruce...might need to add a few elements to the story, since it's been, by your admission, 20 years.

First, God did give him everything to begin with. Which is exactly what Satan said...why won't he follow you God, you've given him everything.

Second...why wouldn't God restore all that He allowed satan to take? You state it gives the implication that one should be rewarded....but I see it not as a reward, but as a restoration of all Job had lost.

our faith is like blocks of carbon coal...for some...the pressure of trials will produce a diamond...for others, there were too many flaws...and the coal crumbles into dust.

Which is why God teaches us...He allows trials into our life as a testing of its strength. Without the many trials, I wouldn't know how strong my faith is.

Answer 9

The Key to Job is that "What Job Feared GREATLY--- Came Upon him".

If Trials and Pain caused us to be Strong, then lets Beat Each Other Up!!!! (Just Kidding, don't beat each other up!)

No, The Word of GOD makes you Strong.
YOU can GET STRONG---BEFOR the Storm in Life Happens!!!

Most People want to Succeed so when the Storm Comes, THEN THEY Start Figting!

You can Learn to Fight befor the Storm.
You can Learn to be Strong Befor the Storm.

Most People Try to Build their House during the Storm.

Build it BEFOR the Storm.

Answer 10

Previous trials in my life got to the point where they brought me back to God (- & my faith is now stronger than ever). I had to hit rock bottom to realise that I did need God (in my case: pneumonia, falling away of friends, depression, sin, etc). A Christian lady prayed for me. God was the only option left that would not let me down (- least of all myself!) Now I'm not looking back. I've put Him in charge of my life now (- not that that means I won't face any more trials however, but I feel better equipped to rely on God's grace to get me through).