Job

Job 2:9-10  Then his wife said to him, "Do you still hold fast your integrity? Curse God and die."  ¹⁰ But he said to her, "You speak as one of the foolish women would speak. Shall we receive good from God, and shall we not receive evil?" In all this Job did not sin with his lips.

I was talking with an old friend yesterday, catching each other up about what has been going on in our lives.  She has been having a few rough months lately.  She was in a really bad car accident back in June, totaling her car and one other and damaging three other vehicles in addition to the individual who had caused the accident.  The individual who was at fault only had liability insurance…not enough coverage to cover everyone.  So my friend’s insurance had to help her get a new car (she had just bought a new car in May, 2012).  She is also no having aches and pains and seeing a doctor due to this accident.

Then in early July she had to fly home to Ohio to attend her grandfather’s funeral.  My friend is a grief counselor and knows that you can never be prepared to lose a loved one, but it’s always different when it’s you instead of a client.  Then a couple weeks ago her air conditioner decided to start acting up…ah the joys of home ownership.  After having it looked at, it will be cheaper to replace the unit than to have it fixed.  Then last week while she was mowing, she ran over a storm drain just right and bent one of her blades.  After having that fixed, she realized the damage was worse than just that because she was leaking oil too!!

My friend expressed her tiredness over everything that had been going on.  Any of these individually would be a bump in the road; having them build on top of one another seemed more like a roadblock.  My friend has been through a lot in her life and her faith is strong…I don’t have to worry about her cursing God and dying as Job’s wife suggests.

If you aren’t familiar with Job’s story, I encourage you to read it.  The story of Job begins by explaining his wealth and many blessings.  Satan then pays a visit to God, telling Him that Job would not be such a Godly servant if life weren’t so easy for him.  God allows Satan to “go at it” with Job, just spare his life.  So little by little Satan destroys all that Job has.  Job’s children are killed, all his cattle and flocks are killed, his crops are destroyed, and Job, himself ends up with physical afflictions.  His wife suggests he give up, but Job refuses.

In the end Job is reconciled and God blesses him beyond what he previously had…and that is the encouragement we are able to take with us.  Even though life may seem a mess and our world seems to be falling in around us, God is still in control.  He will be with us through the trials and we will be blessed for persevering…though we may have to wait until Heaven to receive the blessing, it is coming.

Stay resolute and encouraged!!  God is with you!!

Pastor Amy