Articles
A Woman of Faith
“Consider it a great joy, my brothers, whenever you experience various trials, knowing that the testing of your faith produces endurance. But endurance must do its complete work, so that you may be mature and complete, lacking nothing” (James 1:2-4, HCSB).
Have you ever known someone who seemed to be a magnet for personal tragedies? I don’t mean those who suffer from their own foolishness or neglect. I mean people who seem just plain unfortunate.
I remember a sister like that in one place where I preached. It seemed like every other week something bad happened to one of her relatives. Not small stuff, either: major accidents, serious illnesses, financial catastrophes — they seemed to run in her family. I recall one particular stretch where, in the space of just a few months, her husband had emergency bypass surgery, her grandson was nearly killed in a motorcycle crash, and her young nephew died of an unexpected heart attack. Thanks to her, our prayer list was never empty.
But you know what else I remember? Her response to all that pain. She could have soured on life, withdrawn into a shell, given up. I’ve seen people allow their faith to be wrecked by less. But not her. Mind you, she was no Pollyanna: she showed real sorrow over real tragedy. But she didn’t get stuck in grieving mode. She remained positive and hopeful. She came to every Bible study with her lesson prepared, ready to ask questions and contribute. She came to every worship assembly to sing and pray. A visit to her house always found a warm reception. She did her part to help the needs of others, even when she had needs herself. She was, to borrow Paul’s words, “afflicted in every way, but not crushed; perplexed, but not despairing;…struck down, but not destroyed” (2 Corinthians 4:8-9).
That Christian lady shared the attitude of Job: “Shall we accept good from God and not accept adversity?” (Job 2:10). The patriarch’s circumstances left him sick in body, sad in heart, and perplexed in mind, but he refused to use any of that as an excuse for turning his back on God. I’m sure that dear sister wouldn’t have imagined her sufferings to be on par with Job’s, but her spirit certainly was.
You know something else? Every time I think about that woman’s beautiful response to hardship, I feel ashamed for the times I’ve whined and moaned about a few little problems. And through the more serious troubles in my life, I’ve been able to draw strength from remembering her example. She showed that the response of faith to tragedy is…more faith.
What will we do when Satan hurls his abuse? Fear, doubt, pride, and anger all want to punish God for it. Like Job’s wife, they mockingly ask, “Do you still retain your integrity?” (Job 2:9). They tempt us to “curse God and die,” telling us to stop praying and worshiping, isolate ourselves from God’s people, and ultimately stop believing. But doing that will only hurt us more.
In contrast, faith clings to God even more tightly. When times are tough, faith prays more, not less. It spends more time in God’s word, not less. Its worship grows deeper, not shallower. It seeks out God’s people instead of shunning them. It takes refuge in God’s strength instead of rebelling through sin. Faith endures. And in the end, faith comes out stronger for it.
Thanks, Glenda, for showing others the meaning of faith and endurance. Thanks for being a living tribute to the instruction of James, the example of Job, and the faithfulness of God. Thanks for showing us how it’s done.
