TODAY - From Pastor Marty & Jessica McGrail

In the Bible, there is a story about a man named Job, he was truly a good man who loved God and had a heart to do what was right. Yet in a few weeks' time, he lost his business, his flocks and herds, his entire family, and his health. Things could not get any worse for Job, and I'm sure if Job was anything like most of us, he was tempted to be bitter. He could have said, "God, it's just not fair anymore. I don't understand why all this stuff is happening to me." His own wife even told him, "Job, just curse God and die."

But no, Job knew that God is a God of restoration. He knew God could turn any situation around no matter how bad it seemed. And his attitude was, Even if I have to die, I'm going to die trusting God. I'm going to die believing for the best. And, when it was all said and done, God not only turned Job's calamity around, He brought Job out with twice that which he had before.

Over the years I've discovered two kinds of faith - a delivering faith and a sustaining faith. Delivering faith is when God instantly turns your situation around. When that happens, it's great. But it takes a greater faith and a deeper walk with God to have sustaining faith. Sustaining faith is what gets you through those dark nights of the soul when, like Job, you don't know where to go or what to do. . . but because of your faith in God, you do. Faith tells you the best it yet to come.

If you want to find strength through adversity remember, God has a divine purpose for every challenge that comes into our lives. Trials test our character and help shape our faith.