Not Fear but Trust

“He is not afraid of bad news; his heart is firm, trusting in the LORD.” (Psalm 112:7, ESV) 

Recently, a family in my church lost everything in a tragic house fire. Thankfully, all escaped unharmed. I’ve known others who have experienced tornadoes, hurricanes, or other natural disasters. These victims often feel that their lives will never be the same, and to a degree this is true. When such things happen, so much is lost. Although material goods can eventually be replaced or restored, some things are irretrievably lost.

When tragedy overwhelms us, it is so easy to ask the age-old question, “Why does God allow bad things like this to happen?” Truthfully, we may never fully understand why certain things take place. Ultimately, we must accept that at some point in our lives, we will all endure hardship and trouble.

The Old Testament tells of Job, who experienced intense pain and suffering. He summed it up this way: “Man that is born of a woman is of few days, and full of trouble” (Job 14:1). It is the destiny of us all.

It is never easy to lose one’s possessions, to see a lifetime’s acquisitions swept away in just moments. Most of us have never experienced such utter loss, but Job did. Gone were his children, his livelihood, and his health. He sat a broken man mocked by his friends. Life, as he knew it, no longer existed.

Job 13:15 gives us a glimpse of the character of the man behind the pain. It hinges on the small, three-letter word: yet. Job declared, “Though he slay me, yet will I trust in him.” Despite utter loss, Job maintained complete trust—blind trust—in God. Though questions remained, his confidence in the Almighty held fast.

When everything is gone, what do we have left?

Fires and storms cannot take away our character. Instead, such events reveal the strength of our moral fiber. Amid total devastation, Job was able to declare, “Till I die I will not put away my integrity from me” (27:5).

It is not unusual for the victim of a fire or storm to state, “The only thing that matters is that we are all together and safe.” Material goods become meaningless when compared to life and one’s family. Suddenly, the things we worked so hard to acquire are only “stuff.” And stuff can be replaced.

A friend emailed the day after a massive storm tore through her city and left five feet of water in her home.  Previously, this same lady had lost everything in a fire. She could have flung many questions at God after this second tragedy. Instead, she wrote in her email, “The verse I so often quote, Psalm 34:1, instantly came to mind. ‘I will bless the Lord at all times, his praise shall continually be in my mouth.’ Not just when everything is going well with us, but in ALL times.”

She too has learned, “Yet will I trust.”

Lord, despite the trials and storms that may come my way in life, I trust You. You have given me so many promises in Your Word, and I know that You will never fail me. Help me to worship You at all times and in all things.