Have you ever heard the story of a man who had it all, only to lose everything in the blink of an eye? Job was a wealthy man with a loving family and great health, but his life took an unexpected turn when he lost his possessions, his family, and even his health. It’s safe to say that Job’s life went from perfect to chaotic in no time.
In fact, Job was in so much despair that he longed for death. He didn’t understand what God was doing with him, and he felt like he couldn’t see God in his life anymore. Job was so discouraged that he even stopped eating and spent his days moaning and sighing towards God. Can you imagine how tough that must have been?
Then comes a very important verse, “Why is light given to a man whose way is hidden, And whom God has shut off?” (Job 3:23).
The reason Job was so despairing was that he feared God’s disapproval. He was afraid that he had done something wrong and that God was punishing him. And unfortunately, his worst fears came true when trouble came knocking on his door.
My prayer today is that God will keep us from this type of despair. There is no guarantee that Job’s sort of trouble won’t show up in our lives. You might lose loved ones, health, reputation, and everything you own just like Job. You may go from an unruffled faith to an anguished faith within seconds.
As Christians, we have a powerful promise that we often forget in the midst of our struggles: God is always with us. Even when we can’t see a way out, even when the darkness is so thick we can barely breathe, we can trust that God is there. Our faith will be tested, just like Job’s was, but we can be certain that our trials have a purpose beyond what we can understand.
It’s easy to give in to despair and lose sight of God’s love, but let us not forget that Job eventually repented for his sin of despair. Let’s take inspiration from his story and hold on to the truth that even in our darkest moments, God is with us and working all things for our good.
For the next devotion in this series click here.
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