Enduring With Job: 7 Days Of HopeSample

In one typhoon, Job’s life is changed forever. A series of four horrible events occur and the lone survivor from each incident reaches Job at almost the same time.

First, a group of donkeys and oxen are stolen. A costly lost, but one that can be dealt with. Second, a large number of sheep and servants were lost to “the fist of God” (most likely lightning). Third, Job was robbed again, this time by a group of people who stole his camels and murdered his servants.

But all of these losses pail in comparison with what comes last. The last servant cuts off the other speakers and lays out the most crushing news yet. Job’s children had all been together, eating and enjoying one another’s company, when a whirlwind brought down the house they were in and killed them all.

In one day Job had lost his wealth, his livelihood, and his family.

Crushed, Job falls to the floor and cries out. I came into this world with nothing…and I will leave this world the same way. God gave to me and he can take away, praise God.

Through it all, Job did not sin. At this point, he refused to be completely destroyed. He trusts God and continues to see God’s sovereignty in every event. He could have blamed the people who hurt him or evil or anything – but he didn’t. His first reaction to pain was to lean into God.

I love this, but am also extremely challenged by it because this is not how I react to pain. When bad things happen I do the opposite of Job – I blame people, circumstances, myself. I stress out when things don’t go according to plan, and pray nervous, angry prayers instead of praising God.

Job could react the way he did because he saw God in a way we do not. As BIG. It was never a question to Job who allowed these things to happen, he says right away that God gives and takes away. Do we see God as that big? Do we trust that God really does have His hand in everything?

As we will see, everything Job believes about God will be challenged. Even this. And I believe the only way we can grow is when we challenge our beliefs about God as well.

Takeaway: How big do I believe God is?

Prayer: God, You are bigger than my mind will ever be able to comprehend. Help my unbelief.