Job is my favorite book of the Bible. You might find that surprising, given the intense suffering and trials Job endured, but for me, it carries a message that brings deep comfort and assurance: nothing happens to me without God's OK.
This truth has carried me through some of the hardest moments in my life. The opening chapters of Job lay it out so clearly. Satan could not touch Job without God’s explicit permission.
Job’s trials were severe; loss of family, wealth, health, and reputation; but they were not outside the bounds of God’s control. That fact gives me peace because it reminds me that my life is securely in God’s hands, even when I face difficulties I do not understand. God's got this.
It’s not just about the big picture but also the small, personal struggles we face. If God allowed Job’s trials, He had a purpose in them, even if Job could not see it at the time. That is true for my life too. It is comforting to know that suffering, though painful, is not meaningless. God is always working, refining our character, strengthening our faith, and revealing His glory through it all.
One of my favorite verses in Job is his declaration, “Though He slay me, yet will I trust Him” Job 13:15.
What a powerful statement of faith! Job trusted God’s goodness, even when his circumstances seemed to scream otherwise. That is the kind of faith I aspire to; the kind that says, “God, I don’t understand this, but I trust You anyway.”
Another comforting reminder in this story is that God’s presence never leaves us, even when we feel abandoned. There were moments when Job felt utterly alone, but God was there the whole time.
When God finally answered Job out of the whirlwind (Job 38–41), He did not explain the “why” of Job’s suffering, instead He revealed His infinite wisdom and power. That reminder of who God is was enough for Job, and it’s enough for me too!
Job’s story assures me that God’s purposes are always higher than my understanding. It tells me that even in my darkest moments, God is in control. And more importantly, it reminds me that He is a loving God who will carry me through every trial I face.
Isaiah said it so beautifully in chapter 55, verses 8 and 9: "For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, declares the Lord. For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts."ESV
When life feels overwhelming, look to Job and remember: nothing happens to you without God’s OK. In that, I find peace.
by Jeanette Stark - Wednesday, December 18, 2024
Comments