I’m doing something different this year in my new read-through of the Bible. This time through, I’ve begun journaling as I read. Kind of like writing a commentary, but in a personal way. I just completed my two week journey through the book of Job.
With each new read through of the Bible, the Lord gives me so much more to meditate on. The life of Job astounds me. He endured so much, but never lost his faith. He experienced what can be described as a “living death”. His words, “Though He slay me, yet will I trust Him”, reveals Job’s faith in God. There is so much in this book that can’t be condensed to a blog post, but I just wanted to send out an encouragement to those who may be struggling with your current circumstances, and don’t understand why God has you here.
When God finally answered Job, He never told Job what was going on in the heavenly with Satan, God never told Job the “why” of the suffering he was experiencing. Instead God asked Job a total 78 consecutive questions. In those questions God was basically asking Job if “he” was eternal, great, powerful, wise, and perfect. God’s questions not only revealed to Job who God is, but revealed to Job who he was – ignorant and weak. Even Job, who God considered upright, still held onto a pride in the midst of his suffering. Only when God revealed His mighty glory, did Job really see his own depravity.
There are many things we can glean from this book of the Bible, but the one thing that stands out most to me is the importance of perspective. We often times place our circumstances in front of our view of God. We do this when we fail to see that our circumstances are part of God’s divine purpose for our lives. As God never revealed to Job why he was experiencing so much suffering, God may never reveal to us the “why” of our suffering. Yet, do we trust Him?
When we see God for who He is, the sovereign Creator of all, we should be humbled and grateful for all that He has done. The questions will cease, and then our circumstances will no longer be our focus. Our focus will shift to His Glory and Majesty! When Job took his eyes off of his circumstances, that is when God showed up!
I’m not going to say, “When life gives you lemons, make lemonade”. What I am going to say is to, “Keep a Biblical perspective”. Your circumstances do not alter God’s purpose for you. Nothing you are experiencing surprises God, and nothing you’re experiencing is too difficult to endure, because He is holding onto you. If you’re ever struggling to understand the why of life’s suffering. The book of Job is a good book to read through. Many blessings to you in your Christian pilgrimage.
Romans 8:28 “And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose.”
In Times Like These 