When Everything Was Taken: A Modern Day Job Story

Most people know God as the provider. And yes, He is. But what happens when God provides something you never asked for: a test?

For Gerard Long, evangelist and minister, life seemed almost too good to be true. He had faith, family, a successful career, financial stability, and a relationship with God that had been established since childhood. It seemed like everything he touched turned to gold.

But long before the trials came, Gerard had a motto he lived by: “Things need to be broken down in order to become stronger.” As an athlete, he understood the principle. He even carried it into his prayers, never realizing God would one day bring those very words back to him.

Then came a moment Gerard never expected.

God spoke to him, warning that he would enter a season of brokenness. But this wouldn't be the kind of brokenness that comes from a bad season at work or an unexpected setback. What followed would test Gerard's faith in ways he could never have anticipated.

One loss became another. Then another. The life that once seemed so secure began to unravel, leaving Gerard with a choice: Would he allow the pain to make him bitter, or would he trust God to bring something greater from it?

Today, Gerard looks back on that season through the lens of Proverbs 4:23, reminding us that what we do with our pain matters. We can nurture the seeds of bitterness, or we can choose to cultivate a harvest for God.

And sometimes, the greatest test of faith isn't whether we believe God can provide. It's whether we still trust Him when what He provides looks nothing like what we expected.