Perception – Posture – Practice
Key Texts: Psalm 66:12; Job 1:8; Acts 9:16; 2 Timothy 3:12
“Thou hast caused men to ride over our heads…” (Psalm 66:12, KJV)
“Hast thou considered my servant Job?” (Job 1:8, KJV)
“For I will shew him how great things he must suffer for my name’s sake.” (Acts 9:16, KJV)
“Yea, and all that will live godly in Christ Jesus shall suffer persecution.” (2 Timothy 3:12, KJV)
One of the most difficult realities in the Christian life is discovering that not every problem is from the devil. Some problems are permitted, arranged, or even authored by God for purposes greater than our comfort. Job’s suffering began with God’s commendation. Paul’s suffering was announced before his ministry began. The Psalmist openly acknowledged that it was God who had caused men to ride over their heads. This is the mystery of divine dealings.
As A.W. Tozer observed: “It is doubtful whether God can bless a man greatly until He has hurt him deeply.” God never wounds arbitrarily. Every divinely permitted wound has purpose, every fire has a design, and every pressure has an assignment. The question is not merely “Why is this happening?” The question should be:
How should I perceive it?
What posture should I adopt?
What practices should I maintain?
I. PERCEPTION: Seeing God’s Purpose Correctly
Your perception determines your response. Many believers suffer twice:
• Once from the trial.
• Again from misunderstanding the trial.
The first task is to correctly identify what God is doing.
- Recognize That Some Problems Are Divine Processes
Job was not suffering because of sin. Paul was not suffering because he had missed God’s will. Joseph was not in prison because God had abandoned him. Sometimes suffering is not corrective. It is constructive. God is building something that comfort cannot produce.
Ask:
• Is this punishment?
• Is this warfare?
• Or is this preparation?
A wrong diagnosis produces a wrong response. - See Beyond the Pain to the Purpose
God sees the finished product. We see the present discomfort. Joseph saw a prison.
God saw a prime minister. Job saw loss. God saw revelation. Paul saw a thorn. God saw humility and power. The mature believer learns to ask: “Lord, what are You accomplishing through this?” rather than merely: “Lord, when will this end?” - Understand That God’s Trust Often Precedes God’s Promotion
When God said: “Hast thou considered my servant Job?” He was expressing confidence in Job’s integrity. Some trials are not evidence of divine displeasure. They are evidence of divine trust.
II. POSTURE: Responding to God’s Process Correctly
Once perception is right, posture becomes critical. Many people understand God’s purpose yet respond wrongly. - Adopt a Posture of Trust
Job declared: “Though he slay me, yet will I trust in him.” (Job 13:15, KJV). Trust is faith that survives unanswered questions. Trust says: “I do not understand what God is doing, but I know who God is.” - Adopt a Posture of Humility
One reason God permits suffering is to destroy self-sufficiency. Paul’s thorn reminded him that grace—not giftedness—was the source of his strength. God often breaks our confidence in ourselves so He can build our confidence in Him. - Adopt a Posture of Worship
Job’s first response was astonishing: “And worshipped.” (Job 1:20, KJV). Worship is a declaration that God remains worthy even when His ways are mysterious. Anyone can worship in abundance. The highest worship occurs in adversity. - Refuse Offense
The enemy’s objective is often not the trial itself. It is bitterness. If Satan cannot make you quit, he will try to make you resent God. Never allow temporary pain to distort your eternal view of God’s goodness.
III. PRACTICE: Walking Through God’s Process Faithfully
Right perception without right practice produces little fruit. The question becomes:
What should I do while God is doing His work? - Continue Obeying
Abraham kept climbing Moriah. Joseph kept serving in prison. Paul kept preaching in chains. Jesus kept walking toward Calvary. Do not abandon your last instruction because you dislike your current circumstance. - Continue Serving
Pain should not suspend purpose. Some believers stop serving while waiting for life to become easier. Yet Scripture consistently shows God’s servants remaining faithful in difficult seasons. Your assignment does not pause because your trial has begun. - Continue Praying
Prayer changes during suffering. It becomes less about information and more about communion. Less about explanations and more about strength. Sometimes the greatest prayer is: “Lord, sustain me until Your purpose is complete.” - Continue Learning
Every God-authored problem contains a lesson. Ask:
• What is God teaching me?
• What is God removing?
• What is God developing?
• What aspect of Christ is being formed in me?
Those who learn the lesson seldom waste the pain.
Conclusion: The Wealthy Place
Psalm 66:12 begins with suffering: “Thou hast caused men to ride over our heads; we went through fire and through water…” But it ends with triumph: “But thou broughtest us out into a wealthy place.”
Notice:
The God who caused the process also controlled the process. The God who ordained the fire limited the fire. The God who permitted the water regulated its depth. The God who authored the problem also authored the outcome. Therefore, when God is the author of your problem:
Maintain the right PERCEPTION – “God has a purpose in this.”
Maintain the right POSTURE – “I will trust, worship, and remain humble.”
Maintain the right PRACTICE – “I will obey, serve, pray, and persevere.”
For it may indeed be true that: “It is doubtful whether God can bless a man greatly until He has hurt him deeply.”
And when God’s work is complete, what began as a painful process will be revealed as a glorious preparation for your wealthy place.