Daily Devotions for Difficult Days [139] Trouble, Trouble Everywhere!

Today's Blog is written by Pastor Roy Summers

The (deep) Trials of Job

I have never met a Job, never met someone who has suffered like Job suffered. And perhaps that is one reason he is in the Bible - to set a standard of suffering by which we might compare our own suffering, and thereby know, both that we are not on our own, and that our suffering is not as great as we might feel it is.

Job lost all his children, all his wealth and then his health.

Job lost everything except his wife.

It was indeed a severe trial. And he did not have the comfort of knowing that these sufferings were not a chastisement from God (though we are to consider all hardship as loving chastisement.) Nor did Job know that a spiritual battle in the heavenlies was the direct forerunner of his earthly trials: Satan had been taunting God, and God was going to glorify himself to Satan through the life of Job.

God was going to show to all that He is able to keep his children safe through the darkest night.

All Alone

To understand our memory verse for today we have to grasp the scenario before us. Job is utterly alone. Though he has not lost his wife, she is not really "with him" for she advises him to curse God and die. 

But in his human aloneness, he replies to his wife's suicidal advice, with these memorable words:

"Shall we accept good from God and not trouble?" (Job 2:10)

The Sovereignity of God

These words echo down the centuries and strike every believer who reads them because they feel so different from our common approach to life's events. We all accept good from God. We all love good news whether births, engagements, jobs, spiritual growth, etc. We accept good news so easily.

What we find hard to accept are difficulties, redundancies, news of divorce, alienation, illness, and so on.

In this, Job was greater than us. Job knew that God was the Sovereign ruler of all. And he knew this grand truth, not only in his head, but in his heart. And it is this knowledge that enabled him to respond to waves of tragedy in  the immortal words:

"Shall we accept good from God and not trouble?" (Job 2:10)

"God knows" - and yes he did; "God has everything under control" - that was true; "God still loves me" - correct; "God will protect me" - that happened; "he will see me through" - he did; "good will come out of this" - for sure it did.

Job was certain that all things work out for the good of those who love him, who are called according to his purpose.

Summing it All Up

It sounds like a big ask, does it not? To accept all the trials and tests of life from God in the same way we accept all of his blessings. We will no doubt fail. We will complain and moan. Job did his fair share of that in the chapters that follow. And the shoulders of Almighty God are broad enough to handle all our complaints.

But we should ponder the words of Job and meditate on them and ask the Lord for strength and wisdom to make them our own trusting response to the sorrows and trials of life.

A SONG FOR THE DAY

Our song today reminds us of the friend who sticks closer than a brother through all the troubles of life.

What a friend we have in Jesus,
all our sins and griefs to bear!
What a privilege to carry
everything to God in prayer!
O what peace we often forfeit,
O what needless pain we bear,
all because we do not carry
everything to God in prayer!

Have we trials and temptations?
Is there trouble anywhere?
We should never be discouraged;
take it to the Lord in prayer!
Can we find a friend so faithful
who will all our sorrows share?
Jesus knows our every weakness;
take it to the Lord in prayer!

Are we weak and heavy laden,
cumbered with a load of care?
Precious Savior, still our refuge--
take it to the Lord in prayer!
Do your friends despise, forsake you?
Take it to the Lord in prayer!
In his arms he'll take and shield you;
you will find a solace there.

Joseph Scriven

You can sing along HERE.

A PRAYER FOR THE DAY

Our merciful Father in heaven,

We thank you for the example of Job. We thank you that by your grace, this blameless man was able to rise above the immediate trials of life and remember that you are God.

Teach us to do the same, knowing that you love us and have promised to never leave us or forsake us.

Keep us close to you, keep us rejoicing, keep us confident in your Sovereign rule over all.

We ask this in the Name of Jesus, who for the joy set before him endured the suffering of the cross,

Amen.

Photo by Hafis Ramadhan Setiawan on Unsplash