Trust In The Lord Though He Slay You

I love to read journals of long ago, to learn how different people saw things, and one time a father gave this advice, ‘Trust in the Lord, though he slay you.’  That advice hit me hard.  After all the trials I had lived through, it hurt to think that the Lord knew of them and had allowed them to happen.  I found it a difficult struggle that took years, but eventually the Holy Spirit came upon me and I heard a voice say, ‘Be still, and know that I am God.’  I had several spiritual experiences over my struggles to overcome my anger at those who had hurt me, and some comforting things were told to me like the fact that God is with us and is acutely aware of every detail, and won’t let us go, that everything will work out for our good in the end, several of these things wouldn’t sink in until years later. 

As I delved into the scriptures, I noticed that suffering was a common theme among the old prophets.  Job had to live through some difficult trials, and we are made aware that he was a just and upright man and did not deserve, nor bring upon himself his suffering.  We learn from reading Job that trials and suffering come to the righteous as well as the wicked.  And Job, in his anguish, expressed this thought to the Lord, that he had been righteous and did not deserve his suffering.  Yet Job trusted the Lord so much that he said: “Though he slay me, yet will I trust in him” 

Abraham also lived through some very huge trials and suffering, and he only sought God the more.  His son and grandson were also afflicted with sometimes very severe sufferings and losses, and yet they continued to strive for perfection.  Joseph, who was sold into Egypt, also had a few troubles and yet he continued to progress and perform the work of the Lord. 

These disciples of the Father and several others were tormented and tortured with horrible heinous acts and yet they continued to trust in the Lord.  Why should we want anything different?  If that is what it takes to progress, then we should expect such things when we have asked to become like Him.  And when sufferings come to us, perhaps we should emulate the example of the prophets, and draw closer to the Father even more. 

Some of us have had to live through some terrible evils done to us, and just like those prophets of old if we set our hearts on God, He will come to us and make His abode with us.  The two are inextricably tied.  God is with us, He sees every detail, and is acutely aware of our sufferings as only He can.  He will make all things work out for our good. 

“Though he slay me, yet will I trust in him”
~ Job 13:15 

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