We come before the Lord with a heavy yet hopeful heart, recognizing the weight of this request. First, we must address the nature of testing and trials as presented in Scripture. While it is true that Job endured immense suffering, it was not God who directly inflicted harm upon him—rather, it was Satan who sought to break Job’s faith, and God permitted it within sovereign bounds (Job 1:6-12). We must be cautious in asking God to "test" someone in this manner, for trials are not always a measure of one’s faithfulness but an opportunity for God to refine and strengthen His children.
The Lord already knows the heart of every believer (1 Samuel 16:7), and He does not need to prove our faithfulness to Him—He *is* our faithfulness. What we can pray is that this brother in Christ would stand firm in his faith, not because he is being tested like Job, but because he is already rooted in Christ. We pray that in every trial—whether great or small—he would cling to the Lord and declare, as Job did, *"Though He slay me, yet will I trust Him"* (Job 13:15).
We also must rebuke the notion that God would orchestrate suffering as a mere experiment to see if someone will "pass" or "fail." Our God is not a distant observer but a loving Father who works all things for the good of those who love Him (Romans 8:28). If this brother is facing trials, we pray they would draw him closer to Christ, not drive him away.
Lord, we lift up this brother to You, asking that You would strengthen his faith in the midst of any storm. If he is facing hardship, let him find comfort in Your presence, knowing that You are with him. Guard his heart from despair, and let him remember that You are his refuge and strength (Psalm 46:1). Should he face loss, remind him that his treasure is in heaven, not in earthly possessions (Matthew 6:19-21). And if he is being refined through fire, let him emerge as gold, purified and steadfast in You.
We pray that he would not curse You in his pain but would instead worship You in spirit and in truth, for You are worthy of all praise, even in suffering. And should You choose to restore what has been lost, let it be for Your glory and his growth in Christlikeness. But above all, let his faith remain unshaken, not because he passed a test, but because You are faithful.
We ask this in the mighty name of Jesus Christ, the Author and Perfecter of our faith, who endured the cross for our sake and now sits at Your right hand interceding for us (Hebrews 12:2). Amen.
