That Job Moment

For a second I thought I was having a Job moment…then my eyes were opened. 

Have you ever felt like you were having a Job moment? Season? Year? Life? The instant when nothing seems to go right for all your good efforts. As soon as you get one foot going in the right direction something comes out of nowhere to set you back another month. Right when you utter the words, “God, I can’t take it anymore,” another freight truck comes barreling through to destroy your dying flame of hope. You break an ankle, lose a job, lose a family member, go bankrupt, get deathly sick, lose a home, become homeless, etc.; the conditions are endless. You cry out to God again (hopefully), for help in another trial…and to your surprise you can, indeed endure yet one more trial. 

In the midst of the trial, there is always someone facing a harder situation. For a second, I thought I was having a Job moment. It seems when I’m wallowing in my self-misery, God shows me someone who is really facing heartache. A friend lost their child unexpectedly. Another friend lost their home. A family member can’t carry babies full term. Okay God, I’m really not “going through it.” My eyes are opened. I’m led to repentance for my lack of faith, lack of trust…right when I thought I was getting the hang of faith and trust. 

Let’s look briefly at Job.  What was the purpose of his torment after all? I do not always attribute trials to the enemy. I believe we should be cautious in doing so, because we are human and have the free will to make our own choices, good or bad. We make mistakes that sometimes reduce the good fruit in our lives. Many of our trials are because of lack of wisdom. However, the Lord gives discernment in discovering when it is a full fledge attack from the enemy. This was the case with Job. Job recognized who his adversary was, and was able to focus his heart and mind on the “lifter of His head.” 

In Job 1:13-19, Satan takes all of Jobs property and his children. Still Job is able to proclaim, 

“‘…naked I came from my mother’s womb and naked shall I return. The Lord gave and the Lord has taken away, blessed be the name of the Lord.’ In all this Job did no sin or charge God with wrong” Job 1:20-22 (ESV).

Satan did not stop with all of that, he also made Job experience terrible sickness and pain in his body. His wife suggested he curse God and die. His friends spoke further discouragement upon him (I’ll save his friends for another posts). He had every reason to harbor bitterness and distrust, as you reading this may be able to as well. 

Job’s ability to be humbled, striped of all self righteousness and still say, “For I know that my Redeemer lives,”  is simply amazing to me (Job 19:25). Personally, it convicts me. Maybe we face trials after trial because the enemy does not want God’s plans to succeed on the earth through our lives. Maybe the breakthrough is in our response to each tests. The enemy can take and take, but God is ultimately in control. God has the final word. God’s Word will always out stand the cowardliness of Satan. Why shrink in fear because of a coward? In your test, it is time to make a stand and call Satan out for the liar and thief that he is. Stop giving him so much glory and attention, but shout “I know my Redeemer lives and my life is in His hands.” 

How we respond during our trials determines our outcome and reward. Job did not curse his friends to death and judgement. Rather he prayed for them and God ultimately blessed him beyond the things he had before. He had seven sons and three of the most beautiful daughters of the land. He lived a full and blessed life. His trials marked him as an example that bad things do happen to good people. None of us are exempt from heartache and pain, but through it all we learn to not plainly hear God’s voice, but to see Him working good out of our messes (Job 42:5).

For a second I thought I was having a Job moment…then I realized I’m far from being as strong as Job. I don’t want to only quietly hear, I want to see.