READING: Review of Job 1-24
“But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be provided for you.”
Matthew 6:33
A faithful man who loved God and turned away from evil – and yet, whose life nevertheless fell apart. A man who gave himself to God, but who still lost everything. Whose spouse did not understand how he could still trust God after even their own children had been killed. And whose friends were hardly a comfort to him, instead promoting a theology of good works and suffering that lacked biblical warrant. His own faith became a continual wrestling match, from worshiping God in the midst of the toughest moments to wondering where God was when he sought him.
That’s where we are in the story of Job—and where we are at times in our own lives. I don’t know anyone who has suffered the extent of loss that Job faced, but I do know folks whose Christian lives seem like one struggle after another. No matter how faithful they’ve been, it appears from an outside perspective that God isn’t listening to their prayers. They, too, struggle with the slowness of God’s response. One might wonder, in fact, why they would continue to follow the Lord at all, but they do.
Sometimes they stay faithful because they seriously believe that God will not leave or forsake them (Heb.13:5). In other cases, they’re simply aware that only God has the words of eternal life (John 6:68), so they know they must cling to Him even in His silence. Some followers of Christ have seen God come through for them so many times in the past that they’re convinced He will come through now according to His timing and His plan. They’ve learned to seek God and His kingdom first while trusting Him to meet their every need (Matt. 6:33). Still others are new in their faith, and all they know to do is lean on God. Whatever is the reason for their faithfulness in times of despair, they become witnesses to us in our own struggles.
May God help us to be examples for others, too, in our battles.
ACTION STEPS:
- If you face a tough time in life today, remember that others are watching your reaction. Be a witness for Christ.
- Write a letter to your children or grandchildren that tells the story of God’s faithfulness in your life.
PRAYER: “Father, thank You for Your faithfulness.”
TOMORROW’S READING: Job 25-28