With gas prices around $4 a gallon, foreclosures on the rise, and the price of necessities such as food and electricity increasing, many families are struggling to survive. Struggling to keep food on the table, and a roof over their heads... and some families are at the breaking point, a point where they are waiting for the final notice on their home. A point where they are asking "how a loving God could let this happen."

Like Christ's disciples, at one moment everything seemed to be smooth sailing, and then at the next they were fearful for their lives, waiting for the mighty waves to crush their boat and bury them in the depths of its rage (Matthew 8:23-27).

And like Job, lives seemed to be shattered at an instant, without warning or reason. All at once, everything that could go wrong, did. Like Job, many have faced disease, and without health insurance the bills have been too much to bear. And like Job, they wonder what God's plan for them is.

Dr. Willmington may have said it best when he said, "Did you know that Job was never told why he suffered? The reason he suffered was to silence the devil... and the reason you are suffering now is not because of your sins, not because of your failures, but to silence the devil..." To prove to the devil that you love God not for what He has given you, but for who He is.

Despite all of the suffering Job went through, God protected Him telling Satan he could not take Job's life (Job 1:12), just like God protects all of His children (Psalm 3:3). Remember that God has a plan for you, a plan for success and to glorify Him (Jeremiah 29:11). God is a protector of His children, just like He protected the Hebrews from Pharoah, fed them with manna, and led them to the promised land.

Like Christ's disciples, Job, or even the Hebrews who were once Pharoah's slaves, we may not understand why these hardships come, and why our faith is shaken. We may never know what is going on in the background of the great scheme of life, but we can know that God is in control, and that He has great plans for us. And like those before us, He will reward us for our faith and our sufferings with blessings greater than we expect or can even imagine... for our God is a strength to the poor and needy in distress, and a refuge from the storm.

Today, call out to Him to calm the waters in your life, and put your faith in Him that no matter what trials you are facing, He will provide for you and bless you as you serve Him.