When Life Knocks You Down

Job had to go through some seriously tough times. He didn’t know that there was a conversation between God and Satan happening in the heavens above, but what was decided there ended up happening to him on earth. And let me tell you, it wasn’t good. Evil and calamity hit Job hard, and it was all allowed by God.

Can you imagine being in Job’s shoes? He lost everything — his cattle, his flocks, his camel empire, and worst of all, his whole family except for his wife. And it all happened so quickly.

Yet, despite all this tragedy unfolding right in front of him, what did Job do? He got up, tore his robe, and shaved his head. And then, he fell to the ground and worshiped.

Job’s reaction might seem a little crazy to some of us. How could he still worship God after everything that had just happened to him? But that’s exactly what he did.

“Then Job got up, tore his robe, and shaved his head; then he fell to the ground and worshiped. He said, ‘Naked I came from my mother’s womb, And naked I shall return there. The Lord gave and the Lord has taken away. Blessed be the name of the Lord.’ Despite all this, Job did not sin, nor did he blame God,” (Job 1:20–22).

Job’s faith was put to the ultimate test, and he passed with flying colors. If the devil had been right in his assessment of Job, it would have meant that the devil would be greater or equal to God. But Job didn’t waver. He wasn’t a hypocrite, and he didn’t follow the king of hypocrites.

So, here’s a question for you. If you were in Job’s shoes, would you react the same way? Would you still worship God in the midst of unimaginable loss? It’s not an easy question to answer, but it’s worth considering. Job’s story shows us that it’s possible to have a soul that’s well, even in the midst of tragedy. And that’s something we can all strive for.

For the next devotion in this series click here.

If you’re looking for a book that dives deep into the struggles of suffering and the incredible sovereignty of God, you’ve got to check out Beyond Suffering: Discovering the Message of Job. I’ve put together a review that breaks down its powerful lessons and fresh insights—stuff that really sticks with you. Take a look for yourself over at The Best Book About the Book of Job. Don’t wait—you’ll be glad you did!

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