Remember now, who ever perished being innocent? Or where were the upright ever cut off? Job 4:7

The moment a major disaster occurs in the life of someone, others on the outside look in and find all kinds of reasons as to why it occurred. Rather than looking at the bigger picture of the situation, blame is often quickly attributed to the individual. Accusations of wrong doing are raised to account for what occurred without knowing the full story. Doubt in the innocence of the individual is often in the minds of outsiders of the situation. One of Job’s friends,

Eliphaz, speaks to Job and asked if anyone has ever perished or been cut off who was innocent in an accusation against Job and his character.

One of the most common false beliefs that people have is that when they become a follower of Jesus all their troubles will go away. God will prevent any disasters in their lives because He loves them and would not allow it.

With this type of thinking, it is very common in the church that when the church sees some believer going through a disaster that accusations of it is automatically brought up. Belief that the disaster is directly a cause from sinful choices having been made and God is exacting punishment upon the believer.

Although there are times when God may be punishing a believer, there are other times when it is God testing the believer. In the testing God is not cutting the believer off nor is the believer perishing eternally. One’s life may be over in this life on earth, but one will live for eternity in heaven.

Not always knowing what God is really doing, believers must be careful to not make false accusations of the cause of disaster.

You may be going through, or you may know someone who is going through a major disaster in this life. Be careful to not quickly attribute that disaster to sin in your own life or in the life of someone else.

Turn to God for direction and wisdom in the situation. It may be a time of God testing you and building you up in your trust in Him. As you trust in God, at most you may perish from this life physically, but your soul will live for eternity with Him in heaven. He will not cut you off nor leave you.

Today I pray that you will know Jesus as your Lord and Savior; that you will trust God in every situation in your life; that you will grow in the times of God testing you; that you will pass the tests God puts you through; and that you will not falsely accuse others of sin in times of disaster.