Indeed, life can sometimes turn from sweet to painful, from ease to weight, and the fear of the unknown can other times weigh strong men down. Trusted hands can fail, ties can break, close unions can tear apart, and even families can unbound.

Usually, times like this bring out the beast in so many, turning them into wild cats who disbelieve what they first believed, annulling the facts they once held dear... Truly, these are times the strong break, the weak are grounded, and the faint perish.

It is a fact that some people give their all to ensure hard times never come; they plan, replan, strategies, invest, and do all within their reach, but it just seems they were designed to experience pain. With a burdened heart, they start comparing, looking at others, and wondering about those who do little or nothing but just keep getting it right... and then they start asking questions: Am I a failure? Are some persons against me? Is the world against me? Is God against me?

They think deeper and begin to reminisce about people who once respected them but now approach them with total disdain, people who would almost get to their knees while greeting them but now look up to their face and say the worst. Just as Job said, “All my intimate friends detest me; those I love have turned against me.” (Job 19:19) Those who dared not look at his face are now cursing and saying hurtful words. He said, “But now they mock me, men younger than I” (Job 30:1).

At instances as portrayed above, you would wish the ground opens, the walls fall, and the seas open their mouths in anger against you...but no, it won't; everyone and everything will keep quiet and watch you groan in pain… Cry in disbelief or wail for a solution... Even God will turn a deaf ear.

It is at such a point that you will realize and fully understand that there are friends, there are brothers, but when it gets tough, there can only be you... “Salvation is indeed personal and most times, so are burdens.”

Like Job, his friends despised him, family failed him, and his wife disdained and abandoned him... He was all by himself. He argued with all that he understood and could hold. But even God was quietly watching proceedings as if he meant to have Job strangulated in agony. God stood aloof as if Job had offended him in a way too bad, that can never be forgiven... But on the contrary, He was all along Job’s defence; Job was His bragging right and, at the same time, His burnt offering... What a life to befall a man!

Let’s be honest, if I were to ask, “Is God wicked?” would I be wrong? What kind of father will love his child so much to see him burn in pain? Surprisingly, a child who loves and obeys him (Job was described as an upright man). “There was a man in the land of Uz, whose name was Job; and that man was perfect and upright, and one that feared God and eschewed evil” (Job 1:1).

What about Cain and Abel, or Esau and Jacob? As a matter of fact, the Bible says God declared, “As it is written, Jacob have I loved, but Esau have I hated” (Romans 9:13). Can a father decide to hate one of his own and love the other?

What about the children of Israel and His other creations... He said Israel is His own people, and the other nations are what? You ask God...and within Israel, He said Judah is my sanctuary, “For the LORD hath chosen Jacob unto Himself and Israel for His peculiar treasure.” (Psalm 135:4)

In other words, of all Israel, you will always find me in Judah... Is this God partial, again I ask?

In all of these difficult-to-answer questions, He said, “Without faith, you cannot please me.” You can imagine who indeed this God is. Does He have a conscience? Is He really a loving Father? Because His ways are strange and He agrees.

He said, “As the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than yours. For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, saith the LORD. For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways, and my thoughts than your thoughts” (Isaiah 55:8-9).

The above scripture indicates that God’s understanding, plans, and methods are far beyond human comprehension. And to be honest, He really doesn't care about what you feel or think. But He is undoubtedly a loving father, even though it can be difficult to explain...

While we have considered the odd parts, let’s take a look. What about this? He loved us so much that he gave us His only begotten son, Jesus, to die for us...what kind of a father gives his only begotten? Questionably, this God is strange. He's a very strange God, too hard to understand, too difficult to unravel.

What He wants is not our rationality; He said just have faith in me. Do you like my ways or not? Just have faith in me. Are you confused about my dealings or not? Just have faith in me. Do you want to give up on the weight? I will no longer have pleasure in you, but would you hold on through the pain? Then I will see you through. He said, “If you faint in the day of adversity, thy strength is small” (Proverbs 24:10). He demands that you always have great trust.

God! I know you love me even when what I am going through does not seem like it. I know you care about me even when I don't have core evidence right now. Even when it looks as if I am sinking, I know you will see me through. If all men fail, if all things fail, Lord, know this: I am ready to fail while trusting you than to intend to succeed depending on men or to murmur or despise your grace, faithfulness, and boundless love.

If Job came back stronger, if David escaped death and became king, if Joseph prevailed over hatred, slavery, and imprisonment to become a prime minister, if Jesus, holy and pure, took upon Himself the guilt He knew nothing about and was crucified like a criminal even though He was a divine royalty. Alas! He rose to be seated at the right hand of the Father in glory forever. If faith gave Rahab the qualification to heaven and the two thieves by the cross of Jesus free tickets to paradise, I will trust you, Lord.

Let my hard work fail; I will trust you. Let my zeal fail; I will trust you. Let my family, friends, and loved ones fail; I will trust you. Even if it means death, I will trust you to the grave.

Like Job, I will say, “Though he slay me, yet will I hope in Him; All the days of my appointed time will I wait, till my change come” (Job 14:14).

Again, Job said, “For there is hope of a tree, if it be cut down, that it will sprout again, and that the tender branch thereof will not cease. Though the root thereof wax old in the earth, and the stock thereof die in the ground; Yet through the scent of water it will bud, and bring forth boughs like a plant” (Job 14:7-9).

And to conclude, let’s take note: “For to him that is joined to all the living there is hope: for a living dog is better than a dead lion” (Ecclesiastes 9:4). Therefore, no matter the weight of the storm, “I will say to my God, from my spirit to my soul until my voice re-echoes, you are worthy of my worship; you are worthy of my praise.”

And when it looks as if it’s all over, then I will cry out loud—"A million tongues will never be enough, so I have come to say thank you, Lord. With everything within my very soul, I have come to say thank you, Lord, you are faithful, you are good, Lord, you are faithful, you are good.”

And when I am mocked and cursed, I will say: “You have blessed me more than I dreamed of, Lord, you have been so good more than I can ever explain.” This might not be easy, but surely it is the way out.

Undoubtedly, only those acclaimed as mad men can truly serve God in spirit and in truth... If getting it right with you, Lord, means madness, then Lord, I am ready to be called one.

For God is not a man that he should lie; trust Him even when it doesn't make sense... For He is God all by Himself. The Bible says, “But without faith, it is impossible to please Him: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek Him” (Hebrews 11:6).

Beloved, it need not make sense; you don't have to wait for the pain or shame to go. Even if they mock you, consider them not. Let this be your hope: that in due season, God will reward you.

Therefore, against all odds, never lose your joy, hold on to your peace, and have faith in God.