In times of crisis, there is ineffable comfort in the invitation of Scripture to "Cast thy burden upon Yahweh, and He will sustain thee" (Ps. 55:22). But can we always rely upon Him doing so? The experience of life demonstrates that we can, though faith is often necessary in order to appreciate the fact.

For we might continue to pray, without receiving immediate relief such as we desire from the problems that press so heavily upon us, or the bitter opposition that threatens to crush us.

Is that an indication that Yahweh is indifferent to our prayers, or that prayer is not effectual? By no means. Perhaps there is some lesson that He is trying to teach us or others; perhaps we are obstinately resistant to His guidance; perhaps the time is not ripe to grant the request that we make. Whatever the reason, Yahweh is not indifferent to our state, nor unmindful of our prayers, but is seeking some greater result in our lives which the very suffering we are enduring can assist to bring about.

How frequently, do we find, when we have gone through such an experience, and have objectively reviewed it in the light of the final results, that the love and goodness of Yahweh have been revealed through the trouble He has strengthened us to endure, rather than the period of ease and enjoyment we sometimes have. When we do that, we learn to accept trouble as the disciplinary hand of Yahweh for our benefit, and begin to see a valuable purpose in it. The Apostle wrote: "Now no chastening for the present seemeth to be joyous, but grievous: nevertheless afterward it yieldeth the peaceable fruit of righteousness unto them which are exercised thereby. Therefore lift up the hands which hang down . . ." (Heb. 12:11-12).

Men and women of faith, whose lives are recorded in the Word, sometimes had to wait many long and weary years before light broke in upon their darkness. Yet, as we consider their lives, we recognise the benefit of such trials (James 1:12). We perceive how that their characters were purified thereby, and an example of faithful endurance was given to others. The case of Job is a case in point.

Consider the prayers of such, as recorded in the Word.