John was going about his day at work. He had just restocked the shelves, double checked the inventory to make sure all was correct, and was getting ready to go on break. Then the phone in the office rings, he hears, “call for John on line two” come over the intercom. He goes to the office, picks up the phone. The voice on the other end was his wife’s, she was crying loudly, and when he got her calmed down enough to speak, she told him that their four month old son had just passed away. They had been trying for several years to have a child, and the one God just gave to them was now gone. In this moment, John has a choice, does he turn bitter, or does he choose to trust in the Lord? John has always been open with his faith at work and with his friends, but now that his faith is being tested, will he stand firm in God, or will he break? When John got off the phone, instead of saying that one word that Satan often tempts him with, he went to his knees. He prayed that God would give him the strength and wisdom to be the husband that his wife would need. He prayed for his wife to have peace and comfort, he also prayed that God would use this to grow his faith. His boss overheard part of what was going on in the office, and asked John what happened. John replied, “my baby just died, we have tried for years to have a child, and now he is gone.” His boss was astounded, he replied, “I don’t know how you done it?” “What’s that,” John asked. His boss answered, “If my baby just died, I don’t know if I could trust God to use the death to help me grow in Him.” John, replied, “Sir, this hurts, deeply, but I know that the hotter the fire burns, the better the metal is refined. I know God can use this for my growth and for the growth of others, I need to make sure that I don’t stand in the way of what God is trying to do.” The boss’s chin almost hit the floor, and he simply replied, “You are a remarkable man, now just take the rest of the day off to be with your wife and help her. I know God will take care of you and your wife.” John responded, “thank you sir,” and he left. What John did, the prayer and talking with his boss, was an act of praise to God. In these moments, God was already beginning to grow the faith of John and his boss. God was using this instance to begin the healing process in John. Because John used the moment for God’s glory, God would later on bless he and his wife with three more children, all of whom lived well into adulthood. In the moments when it hurts, in the moments of anxiety, we have to trust God. We cannot afford to succumb to our situation, we have to trust in the One who will guide us through the situation. We have to trust He has a plan, and we have to praise Him. When we feel like we have nothing else to give, we need to lift our hands in praise to God, because He is worthy even when we cannot see it because of our situation. John trusted God and was rewarded. If we will follow God, we will be rewarded in the end, but we must endure. Deuteronomy 31:6, “Be strong and courageous. Do not fear or be in dread of them, for it is the Lord your God who goes with you. He will not leave you or forsake you.” God Bless!
