God of the ImpossibleSample

Day 2: The Lord Giveth and Taketh Away:

Today, we’re talking about a powerful principle about the Lord’s blessings: what the Lord gives, He can also take away.

The next hardship in my life came following my mother’s passing. This put me in a mental hole for quite some time. I felt all alone, but looking back, I realized God was with me the entire time.

The Lord kept me and carried me through those dark moments when my faith was tested, and I wavered in doubt and unbelief. I felt unworthy and unloved.

I felt like my mother had deserted me. I know she loved me and would have done anything for me as she had proven day after day for thirty-eight years, but still, I was believing the lies of the devil. I wasn’t praying, but I knew others were praying, especially my grandmother, my aunts, other family members, and friends. Intercessory prayers were made on my behalf on a daily basis.

Whenever we experience extreme losses, I think most of us think about how Job suffered. As we are faced with an impossible reality, we realize his isn’t just a Biblical story. The Divine Author placed the story of Job in the Bible for several reasons; one is that it is an example for us as to how we ought to react when tragedy strikes. Job’s life is noted for several things, but one that stands out to me is how remarkably well he responded when he first heard the news of the deaths of his servants, livestock, and even his children in Job 1:20-22.

When my grandmother passed, I had another opportunity to respond to loss just like Job did, but I didn’t. The response of Job is important in several ways:

1) Job worshiped right after he knew that the unthinkable had happened. He didn’t cry or get angry. We don’t read that he got anxious or resentful. Instead, he decided it was the appropriate time to worship God.

2) Job realized where his blessings came from, and that the giver of all good things was also the taker of those same blessings.

3) Isaiah rightfully wrote God’s declaration plainly for us: “For my thoughts are not your thoughts . . . For as heaven is higher than earth, so my ways are higher than your ways, and my thoughts than your thoughts” (Isaiah 55:8-9, CSB).

4) Job “did not sin,” despite his grief and loss. We cannot allow our grief to take us into sinful and destructive behaviors.

5) Job didn’t curse God. Later, in Job 3, after his body was affected with terrible boils, we see that he expressed his doubts. We see him giving into despair, and he even went as far as to curse the day he was born.

6) Job didn’t give up. Yes, we can get frustrated and angry, but we should never give up on God.

Next time you're faced with one of life's obstacles, difficulties, distractions, or hardships, strive to respond like Job.