Why?: A Study Through JobSample

By Danny Saavedra

“Even if He kills me, I will hope in Him. I will still defend my ways before Him.”—Job 13:15 (HCSB)

What a declaration Job makes here! Matthew Poole eloquently broke down Job’s heart here, writing, “Though God should yet more and more increase my torments, so that I could bear them no longer, but should perceive myself to be at the point of death, and without all hopes of recovery in this world . . . Yet will I trust in him . . . Should I despair? No, I will not. I know he is a just, and a faithful, and merciful God, and he knows that my heart is upright before him, and that I am no hypocrite.” 

Wow . . . Even if all I have and everything I hold dear in this world is taken from me, I will still hope in Him, trust in Him, believe in Him, and rest in Him. Even if I have nothing, I still lack nothing (Psalm 23:1) because I still have Him. 

That’s why Paul, who experienced Job-like trials, told us, “Indeed, I count everything as loss because of the surpassing worth of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord. For his sake I have suffered the loss of all things and count them as rubbish, in order that I may gain Christ” (Philippians 3:8 ESV). It’s how Paul was able to say, “For I have learned to be content whatever the circumstances” (Philippians 4:11 NIV). 

Something else that is so powerful here to note is that Job basically says that even if God does kill him this day, he knows he can stand before our perfect and holy God and stand on his integrity. Job knew that he remained faithful to the Lord all his days, that he walked with the Lord and lived a life of faith and honor. He knew that his circumstances weren’t tied to the way he had lived, he knew that the Lord still loved him and had a plan for him, and he stood firm in that. 

As believers, we must embrace Job’s mentality and remember that despite everything going on in and around our life, He is still God (that alone makes Him worthy of our honor, praise, and trust), He still loves us, and He still has a plan and purpose for us. I pray that you won’t allow your circumstances to impact your hope in the Lord. I hope you won’t let the misguided “advice” or “wisdom” of the world influence your obedience and devotion to Christ. Lean into the Spirit, put all your hope in Christ, and be faithful to obey the will and Word of the Lord.

DIG: Read Philippians 3–4 and Psalm 23.

DISCOVER: How can you embrace Job’s mentality? How can you model it for others?

DO: Pray the Lord helps you to fully embrace the Job and Paul mindset regarding Him and the things of this world.