The Bible gives us examples of those who gave glory to God in suffering. Just think of Job. What did he do after his possessions and even his children were taken from him? He said, “The Lord gave, and the Lord has taken away; blessed be the name of the Lord” (Job 1:21). We can assume that this was certainly not easy for him. It may well be that he first needed some time before voicing these words. But because he did it, he honored God with submission and meekness—and left us an example by it.

Job looked to God in his distress, and that made him calm. He did not say, “The Chaldeans have taken,” but, “The Lord has taken.” He saw God behind the circumstances. But Job was not perfect either. Later, when he was smitten with boils and sores by Satan, when his friends spoke unkind words to him, and when the sufferings dragged on and on, bitterness arose in his heart. This led him to begin to reproach God. Especially when sufferings drag on for a long time and the burden does not get any lighter, it takes a lot of grace not to become bitter but to have an internal “yes” to God’s ways with us again and again. Even when calamity suddenly strikes, the Lord understands that such events are accompanied by sadness, bewilderment, and disappointment.

He does not expect us to always praise Him on the spot in such situations and to be immediately completely calm about it. But He wants to help us not to become bitter because of it and not to give up! It is very precious to God when we say “yes” to the things He allows us to go through and has even provided for us! Remember, especially when you are going through hardships or difficulties, God is working on you and wants to transform you into the image of His Son. The often-quoted verses from Romans 8:28–29 are still a wonderful encouragement: “we know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are the called according to His purpose. For whom He foreknew, He also predestined to be conformed to the image of His Son.”