Bishop Joseph W. Walker, III 
May 25, 2025

“I have heard of You by the hearing of the ear, but now my eye sees You.” — Job 42:5 (NKJV)

I.               Introduction

• True knowledge of God, I believe, goes beyond the testimonies of others, though they are valuable. While second-hand information, catechisms, or structured teachings are essential, they cannot replace the transformative experience of personal encounters with God. It is through personal trials and challenges that God reveals Himself to us in profound ways. Today, we delve into the story of Job, not only as a tale of resilience but also as a demonstration of glorifying God amid loss and adversity.

A.    The Journey of Job

• Job was a man blessed with wealth, health, family, and prestige. His life seemed perfect until a series of tragic events stripped him of everything. Yet, in the depths of his suffering, Job encountered God in ways that would change him forever.

1.      Navigating Voices of Misunderstanding

1. At the onset of his suffering, Job faced conflicting voices from those closest to him. His wife, overwhelmed with grief, misunderstood God’s purpose and urged Job to “curse God and die.” His friends, instead of offering support, interrogated Job, suggesting that his suffering must have been a consequence of hidden wrongdoing. Despite their misunderstanding and interrogation, Job managed these relationships with unwavering faith.
2. This narrative reminds us that our challenges are not the end of our story. Instead, they set the stage for divine revelation. What we endure brings greater clarity of who God truly is.

2.      Job’s Status and the Heavenly Conversation

1. To grasp the depth of this story, it’s essential to understand Job’s position during the patriarchal era—a time when wealth was measured by livestock, land, and legacy. Job was a man of integrity, respected and righteous, described as “blameless and upright.” His relationship with God was so profound that he interceded for his children, praying as though it was a spiritual insurance policy.
2. Above Job’s head, unbeknownst to him, a conversation took place between God and Satan. Satan, wandering the earth, sought someone to tempt, and God offered Job as an example of unwavering faith. Without Job’s consent, God volunteered him, trusting Job to represent His glory even in adversity. Satan challenged this, claiming Job’s faithfulness was rooted in the blessings he had received. God allowed Satan to test Job, but with one limitation: Job’s life belonged to God.

B.    Can God Trust You with Trouble?

• This scenario poses a profound question: Can God trust us with trouble? Can we endure trials and emerge with a greater revelation of who God is? Job’s life became a case study of seeking God, moving from hearing about Him to truly seeing Him.

1.      From Loss to Legacy

1. Job’s suffering was transformative. He experienced profound social, economic, and psychological loss, yet never sinned or charged God with wrongdoing. Through this, Job matured to a place of worship that few attain—a place where God is glorified not for His blessings but purely for who He is.
2. Ultimately, Job’s story transcends loss. It is a testament to legacy. Job lived to see four generations, proving that his narrative was not defined by tragedy but by enduring faith and a legacy of revelation.

II.               God’s Revelation Through Trials

• God’s revelation often emerges through the trials He allows us to face. Without enduring challenges, we cannot fully grasp the deeper truths about His nature or the ways He manifests Himself. Job’s suffering was not just about losing wealth, family, or health—it ultimately led to encountering God in profound ways. Similarly, God reveals Himself even in moments of immense loss and pain.
• When we reflect on life comprehensively, we recognize the transformative nature of our struggles. There are seasons where merely hearing about God is insufficient; it is through personal experiences—those trials and tribulations—that we truly come to understand His power and faithfulness. As the songwriter aptly puts it, “I thank God for the mountains and the storms He brought me through, for if I never had a problem, I wouldn’t know what faith in His word could do.” Through hardships, we learn to rely on Him, and it is during such times that God reveals Himself most vividly.

A.    Encountering God in Suffering

1. Suffering is not wasted—it becomes the fertile ground for testimony and revelation. Every trial, tear, and tragedy contributes to the story of God’s faithfulness. Job’s compounded losses—economic, familial, relational—mirror the struggles many of us face, yet they also show how pain draws us closer to God. Like Job, we encounter God in our pain. Just as the three Hebrew boys saw Him in the furnace and Paul experienced His presence in a jail cell, we too find God in the midst of adversity.
2. Revelation often comes through situations orchestrated by God. Isaiah 6 reminds us that it was only after King Uzziah’s death that Isaiah saw the Lord. Similarly, pain and loss pave the way for divine encounters. Worship is vital, especially when we don’t understand the reasons behind our struggles. In moments of temporary pain, we must refuse to forget God’s eternal promises. What we endure is temporary, but His promises are everlasting.

B.    Pain as Pathway to Intimacy

1. Pain drives us closer to God, fostering a deeper intimacy with Him. The apostle Paul encapsulates this truth in Philippians 3:10, where he speaks of knowing Christ through the “fellowship of His sufferings.” It is through our most challenging moments that we gain a clearer perspective of God as our provider, healer, and miracle worker. Our songs of praise become more authentic, not because we’ve heard of His works, but because we’ve experienced His power firsthand.
2. Suffering adjusts our vision, pushing us beyond questions like “Why me?” to seeking God’s purpose in our trials. Adversity, though painful, often works in our favor, elevating us and granting us clarity. As the enemy’s attempts to break us fail, they inadvertently drive us closer to God, sharpening our focus and advancing our spiritual growth.

C.   Trusting God’s Sovereignty

1. Job’s story underscores the importance of trusting God, not for what He does, but for who He is. The enemy miscalculated Job’s faith, assuming it was tied to his blessings. Yet Job demonstrated unwavering trust, declaring, “The Lord gave and the Lord has taken away; blessed be the name of the Lord.” This perspective teaches us that loss often makes room for greater blessings and revelations.
2. God does not owe us explanations for the trials He allows; rather, these experiences deepen our understanding of His sovereignty. We learn to thank Him for the clarity and growth that come from adversity. As we endure suffering, we gain a clearer vision of His purpose, recognizing that everything—good or bad—ultimately works together for our good.

D.   Purpose Revealed Through Trials

1. Every trial serves a purpose in God’s plan. From Joseph’s betrayal and imprisonment to David’s afflictions and Paul’s hardships, each moment of suffering was preparation for a greater destiny. As David proclaimed, “It was good for me to be afflicted, that I might learn Your statutes.” Similarly, James urged early believers to “count it all joy” when facing trials, knowing that testing produces perseverance and maturity.
2. Our trials provide revelations and intimacy with God, revealing His larger purpose in our lives. They teach us to manage our relationships with others, showing that our relationship with God sets the tone for all human interactions. Job maintained his faith despite the interrogation of his friends and the despair of his wife, standing firm in his convictions and declaring his faithfulness “until my change comes.”

E.     Final Reflection

1. Suffering, though painful, opens our eyes to God’s purpose and helps us see Him more clearly. It transforms adversity into a platform for elevation, turning what was meant for harm into a blessing. Trusting in God’s sovereignty allows us to embrace His promises, knowing that our trials are not designed to destroy us, but to refine and bless us. As we endure, may we find strength in the assurance that God’s purpose is always at work, drawing us closer to Him and revealing His glory.

III.               Your Relationship with God Sets the Tone for All Other Relationships

• Thank you, Pastor. Well, in Job Chapter 14, we see a profound truth. Job opens his discourse by saying, “Man born of woman is of few days and full of trouble.” I want you to really hear this: life is inherently challenging. Everyone’s days are few, and those days are filled with trials.

A.    Be Faithful Until Your Change Comes

1. If trouble in life is guaranteed, why would I add to it by creating more trouble for myself? Instead, I choose to trust God, standing firm and waiting until my change comes. This waiting isn’t passive—it’s active. It isn’t about sitting idly, hoping for something to happen. Just as waiters in a restaurant actively serve, we are called to serve God while we wait. Job exemplifies this by maintaining his worship and steadfastness, even in the darkest moments.
2. Can you still show up and praise God when life knocks you down? That’s the question. Worship in the midst of suffering positions you for restoration. It’s a sign of spiritual maturity—showing that your relationship with God isn’t tied to material things but rooted in faith and trust.

B.    Restoration From God Transforms Our Lives Forever

1. The story of Job teaches us that restoration with God is more than simply regaining what was lost. When Job’s life was restored, God gave him double of what he had before. This wasn’t just about material blessings—it was a complete transformation. Worship during trials positions us for this kind of restoration. Job’s unwavering faith, even when he lost everything, set the stage for his restoration.
2. When God restores, He doesn’t just fix what’s broken—He elevates us to a new level. Think of it like a modern software update for cars or phones. The update doesn’t merely correct glitches; it often adds new features that you didn’t even know you needed. Similarly, God doesn’t just “fix” us; He upgrades us in ways that exceed our expectations.
3. God’s restoration isn’t limited to the physical—it’s emotional, spiritual, and relational. It transforms our perspective, our relationships, and our purpose. Job’s life after restoration was not just about having more—it was about seeing more clearly: seeing God, seeing others, and seeing himself in a new light.

C.   Release to Receive

1. One of the most overlooked aspects of Job’s story is that his restoration began when he prayed for his friends. To receive blessings, we must be willing to release bitterness, resentment, and misunderstanding. Revelation comes when we let go. Holding on to pain only hinders the blessings God has for us.
2. This is your season of restoration. Just like the famous Emmanuel bell in Notre Dame, which was cracked and silent for years, restoration doesn’t just repair—it enriches. When the bell rang again after being restored, its sound was richer, deeper, and more resonant. The cracks didn’t disqualify it; they gave it character. Your trials and cracks in life are not meant to silence you but to refine and amplify your testimony.

D.   Conclusion

1. God’s restoration is about more than returning to the status quo—it’s about transformation. When you trust in Him, He not only restores what is lost but blesses you with more than you could imagine. Release what holds you back, worship through the trials, and step into the fullness of God’s plans for your life. This is the season for restoration, transformation, and elevation.