Lessons from Job | Staying Faithful During a Crisis

Just about everyone has faced a crisis in their life. In fact, right now, many of us are experiencing challenges due to the coronavirus pandemic.  

The truth is that we all have the power to decide how a tragedy will impact our lives. Yet, all too often we succumb to the spirit of fear and let its chaos distort our reality as Believers in Jesus Christ (Yeshua HaMashiach in Hebrew).  

When a crisis is looming, how can we be sure that we are responding in a way that pleases the Lord and positions us, His children, for victory? 

Woven throughout God’s Word are countless stories that include instruction on how to remain faithful during a crisis.  

The key is to seek faith in God first and to remain faithful during a crisis.  

• “By faith Noah, being divinely warned of things not yet seen, moved with godly fear, prepared an ark for the saving of his household, by which he condemned the world and became heir of the righteousness which is according to faith.”—Hebrews 11:7 (emphasis added) 

Lessons from Job | 3 Ways He Remained Faithful  

The story of Job begins with a man of steadfast faith. He was blameless and feared God, yet he was stripped of every worldly possession and left with no family but his wife. 

1. Will He Choose Resentment or Faith?  

Ultimately, Job was a good man who suffered through no fault of his own, and during his tragedy, he had to make a choice. Job could either respond with resentment toward the Lord, or with faith in the Lord. He chose to stay faithful during a crisis.  

• “Then, Job arose, tore his robe, and shaved his head; and he fell to the ground and worshiped. And he said, ‘Naked I came from my mother’s womb, and naked shall I return there. The Lord gave, and the Lord has taken away; blessed be the name of the Lord.’ In all this Job did not sin nor charge God with wrong.”—Job 1:20-22 (emphasis added) 

2. Will Job Remain Faithful in Adversity? 

Despite his faithfulness, Job’s story takes a turn for the worse when he suffers physical hardship and his wife turns her back on him. Again, he chose to remain faithful during a crisis. 

• “Then his wife said to him, ‘Do you still hold fast to your integrity? Curse God and die!’ But he said to her, ‘You speak as one of the foolish women speaks. Shall we indeed accept good from God, and shall we not accept adversity?’ In all this Job did not sin with his lips.”—Job 2:9-10 (emphasis added) 

3. Will Job Recognize There is No Wisdom Apart from God? 

Though Job’s friends visit and try to console him by offering possible solutions to his problems, they keep coming up short. Finally, Job concludes that no one can give him any real wisdom apart from God, so he demands a hearing in the courts of heaven. 

• “’But where can wisdom be found? And where is the place of understanding? Man does not know its value… From where then does wisdom come? And where is the place of understanding? It is hidden from the eyes of all living… God understands its way, And He knows its place.’”—Job 28: 12-13, 20-21, 23 

4. What is the Key to Remaining Faithful During a Crisis? 

In the end, Job does present his case before the Lord, but what he does not receive is an explanation. Still, his decision is to remain faithful during a crisis. What is Job’s key to remaining faithful during the crisis? Acknowledging God’s power and sovereignty with a repentant heart. 

• “Then Job answered the Lord and said: ‘I know that You can do everything and that no purpose of Yours can be withheld from You. You asked, “Who is this who hides counsel without knowledge?” Therefore I have uttered what I did not understand, things too wonderful for me, which I did not know. Listen, please, and let me speak; You said, “I will question you, and you shall answer Me.” I have heard of You by the hearing of the ear, but now my eye sees You. Therefore I abhor myself, and repent in dust and ashes.”’”—Job 42:1-6 (emphasis added) 

The story of Job reminds us that faithful Believers are not immune to tragedy! Sadly, most of us can relate to the suffering of Job on one level or another. We may desire answers explaining our sorrow.  

In fact, we may even convince ourselves that we are entitled to answers because we have chosen to trust in God. Ironically, that is precisely the reason we don’t need the answers we so desperately seek.  

Here’s the thing about God: He is faithful, and He has already given us everything that we will ever need.  

Responding in Faith 

In our current situation of isolation and social distancing, how can we be sure that we are staying faithful during a crisis as opposed to falling victim to the distractions of the enemy?   

The simple truth is that we have 2 choices when it comes to responding to any tragedy or crisis. We can choose to… 

1. Trust God  

or… 

2. Doubt His Sovereignty and Goodness 

Many of us, however, fail to make a choice at all. Rather we teeter back and forth between trust and doubt. In which case, the choice has been made for us. Understand this, the absence of trust is doubt!  

Trust is a choice backed by the intentional decision to believe what has not yet been seen. It takes action. Trusting God is the only way to remain faithful during a crisis. 

It is impossible to claim the victory that has been bought by the blood of the Lamb when we only accept good from God and doubt Him in adversity. 

We must be willing to accept the tragedy to appreciate the triumph.  

Remaining Faithful During a Crisis 

As followers of Yeshua, we must be prepared to experience life with the same uncertainties that Job did and still be willing to trust that God is actively at work in our lives. 

• “And we know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are called according to His purpose.”—Romans 8:28 

Even when our surrounding circumstances seem hopeless, we can rest assured that remaining faithful during a crisis is justified. We do not serve a God who punishes, but rather a God who restores and redeems what is placed before Him. 

• “Blessed is the man who endures temptation; for when he has been approved, he will receive the crown of life which the Lord has promised to those who love Him.”—James 1:12 

Whether the crisis you are facing is personal or global, making a choice to seek and trust God is the best way to ensure that you emerge from the situation victoriously. 

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