Times Like This Where Do You Put Your Faith?

The best word in English that we can use in place of "faith" is trust. In these trying times to whom do you place your faith? In yourself, in your abilities, in a higher power, luck, or God. With the full blown worldwide financial meltdown in progress it won't be long and we could begin to see the consequences of this disaster touching you, your friends, family or neighbors. Just to name a few things we could experience:

• Loss of tax revenue to government will cause projects to be delayed or cancelled


• Corporate cutbacks and layoffs


• Business closings


• Inability to retire


• Reduction in government programs


• Churches, para church organizations, and other non-profits suffering from income loss

I hope we do not see a full fledged recession or worse. I can remember going through rough economic times as a small business owner during the Carter Presidency in the 80's. If I remember correctly unemployment was around 10% and interest rates were as high as 21.5%, outrageous personal, corporate, and capital gains taxes. The government officially announced that we were in a recession and it was like someone had flipped a switch and the economy light went out. It wasn't until the Reagan administration made some radical changes in the tax code did the economy begin to pull out of the doldrums. Since the Reagan years we have seen the longest period of economic growth ever experienced by a nation. Many young people today have no idea of what it is like to go through a significant economic down turn.

When God wants us to understand the mystery of suffering, He does not give us an intellectual argument – he gives us the story of Job. After losing everything God restored seven-fold what Job had lost. He has got it all – health, wealth and a loving family – but he loses everything. His friends tell him it is his own fault. He must have sinned or offended God. Job insists that he has not sinned. He questions God. He gets angry with Him. But through it all, he holds on to his belief that God is in control. He puts his faith (trust) in God. If you haven't read Job lately it might be worth taking your time to do so.

God eventually speaks to Job, but does not give him an answer. He just points out that these things are too big for Job to comprehend. And Job is satisfied – because he doesn't really want an answer. He just wants to know that God has not abandoned him. And in the final chapter of Job, God shows him that He is on his side. God reprimands his friends, commends Job and blesses him.

The message of the Bible is that we need to hold on to God in the bad times. As a believer there is no other answer. Of course, we should not let the good times hide Him from us either! Of course many people don't seek God or build on the personal relationship with Him during the good times. They run to Him only when they are affect by the bad times.

Job 42:10 says, "After Job had prayed for his friends, the LORD restored his fortunes and gave him twice as much as he had before".

The Book of Job is a wonderful story of loss, restoration, and faith!