READING: Job 29-31
Sometimes even the most faithful, righteous people face the reality of intense, painful, ongoing spiritual warfare. The story of Job ever reminds us of this truth. In Job 1, God Himself said that Job was blameless and upright, fearing God and turning away from evil. Job later paints the picture this way: “I put on righteousness as my clothing” (Job 29:14). Moreover, in his troubles he longed for the days “when God watched over me” (Job 29:2), when “by his light I walked through darkness” (Job 29:3), when “God’s intimate friendship blessed my house” (Job 29:4), when those who knew him spoke well of him (Job 29:11).
Still, God put the bullseye on Job’s back and allowed Satan to attack this faithful man. Job lost everything except his wife. His friends blamed him for his problems. Job wanted God to vindicate him, but He didn’t seem to be listening. Others who formerly respected Job now spat in his face. A righteous man now found himself continually pounded in the battle — and how hard it must have been to continue to trust God!
We know, though, that God was still fully sovereign over Job’s situation. Apparently, He had a plan to bring glory to Himself in a way that seems hard for us to understand — through the sufferings of one of His own. The devil remained on God’s leash as he attacked Job, but God gave him a leash much longer than you and I might like.
The length of God's leash in the hands of the enemy, however, in no way diminishes God's loving control over the situation. We can still lean on Him, even when the best we can say are the words of Job: “I cry out to you, God, but you do not answer; I stand up, but you merely look at me” (Job 30:20).
Victory in the battle sometimes means trusting God in the silence.
ACTION STEPS:
- Take some time today and silently meditate on God’s majesty and goodness. Be still and quiet, learning to lean on Him in the silence.
- Pray intentionally for someone you know who believes that God has turned away from him or her.
PRAYER: “God, You are Lord when You speak, and You’re still Lord when You’re silent. Help me to believe those words even when life is hard.”
TOMORROW’S READING: Job 32-34