Praise him – Day 10

God himself testifies that Job is a blameless and upright man who fears him and shuns evil (Job 1:8). This did not prevent him from being sorely tested and experiencing much suffering in his lifetime. He was robbed of his cattle; his shepherds were killed by lightning. All his children are killed in one day and also his body is afflicted with illness. His friends and even his wife turn their backs on him.

Job does what we should also do: he bemoans his fate to God. He declares his innocence before him – something you can do if you, like Job, live righteously and love the Lord. Job believes he is being treated unjustly, but one thing Job did not do when talking to God: “… Job did not sin by charging God with wrongdoing” (Job 1:22).

Bad things happen to Christian believers, even though we, in our brokenness, truly love the Lord and have been giving the best of ourselves to serve him. It is often in these hard times that people question God’s involvement in their lives and wonder what they have done wrong to bring such trials and afflictions upon themselves. They often query out loud whether it is worth serving God.

The truth is that we have no guarantee that we will not experience hardship. In fact, the Bible says that trials are really part of our spiritual walk so that our faith will be tested, and we can learn perseverance (James 1:3). Job realised this truth – he knows that he is suffering despite the fact that he is righteous. You might also find yourself in circumstances that have become unbearable for you. Take heart because …

Aside from Job, Isaiah was also known to fall into despair, and he asked: “Who among you fears the Lord and obeys the word of his servant?” And then he gives the answer: “Let the one who walks in the dark, who has no light, trust in the name of the Lord and rely on their God” (Isaiah 50:10).

Do you hear? Firstly, you can trust in the name of the Lord because “The name of the Lord is a fortified tower; the righteous run to it and are safe” (Proverbs 18:10). Secondly, you can rely on your God. He is trustworthy, he is your Helper, he hears your cries and strengthens you, for “… the Lord is one” (Mark 12:29).