We should not be so quick to disassociate and dissolve ourselves from the knowledge and relationship with God that we were created to abide within. Throughout Scripture we see that God is working out His purpose for His glory. ”For my name’s sake I defer my anger, for the sake of my praise I restrain it for you, that I may not cut you off. Behold, I have refined you, but not as silver; I have tried you in the furnace of affliction. For my own sake, for my own sake, I do it, for how should my name be profaned? My glory I will not give to another.” Isaiah 48:9-10  Can you sense the power, authority, and splendor of God? Our lives are trivial exercises in futility compared to the mere eternal existence of God.

The marvel of God is that He takes an interest in mankind. We are complete failures that God deems precious. The intent of God that is documented through scripture tells of His desire to restore mankind from his rebellious nature. Time after time we rebel against God as we waiver and seek to be our own god. Throughout our disobedience God remains faithful and true. ”Oh that you had paid attention to my commandments! Then your peace would have been like a river, and your righteousness like the waves of the sea; your offspring would have been like the sand, and your descendants like its grains; their name would never be cut off or destroyed from before me.” Isaiah 48:18,19  What would our live be like if we fully submitted to God? Would all that we would deem loss be truly lost? ”Sing for joy, O heavens, and exult, O earth; break forth, O mountains, into singing! For the LORD has comforted his people and will have compassion on his afflicted.” Isaiah 49:13  We cannot begin to fathom what God is purposing to do through us.

Will you give up the fight that is occurring within your soul and abdicate the throne to God? Can there be anything that will keep God from working in our lives? Can His nature be thwarted? “Can the prey be taken from the mighty, or the captives of a tyrant be rescued? For thus says the LORD: “Even the captives of the mighty shall be taken, and the prey of the tyrant be rescued, for I will contend with those who contend with you, and I will save your children. I will make your oppressors eat their own flesh, and they shall be drunk with their own blood as with wine. Then all flesh shall know that I am the LORD your Savior, and your Redeemer, the Mighty One of Jacob.” Isaiah 49:24-26  Will you take hope knowing that God is working? Not even your sinful nature is strong enough to thwart God. Will you abdicate the throne of life? Your life and existence depends upon your answer.

“Remember this and stand firm, recall it to mind, you transgressors, remember the former things of old; for I am God, and there is no other; I am God, and there is none like me, declaring the end from the beginning and from ancient times things not yet done, saying, ‘My counsel shall stand, and I will accomplish all my purpose,’ calling a bird of prey from the east, the man of my counsel from a far country. I have spoken, and I will bring it to pass; I have purposed, and I will do it.” Isaiah 46:8-11  God is actively working all around us. We cannot and should not presume to think that we have any impact on the events of life. We only endure because God enables us to endure. “Listen to me, you stubborn of heart, you who are far from righteousness: I bring near my righteousness; it is not far off, and my salvation will not delay; I will put salvation in Zion, for Israel my glory.” Isaiah 46:12,13 Will you trust in God for your hope and salvation?

Can you see the hope that is found in the promised salvation of God? We can live, move, and breathe because this life is not the summation of life. We have so much more in store for us as we hope in God’s salvation. The beauty of God’s salvation is that is does not depend upon us. God grants us eternal life because He desires us to have it. Take delight and pleasure in the promise of God. Do not become weighted down by the ways of life but rise above worry as you cling to the truth that God is in control.

Our perspective as we wait for the second advent of Jesus Christ is similar to the perspective of the sons of Korah as they waited for the advent of salvation. “Show us Your lovingkindness, O Lord, and grant us Your salvation… Surely His salvation is near to those who fear Him, that glory may dwell in our land.” Psalm 85:7,9  Expentancy marked the expectations of the sons of Korah as they endured the tribulations of life. As we press on and endure this life remember that we are sojourners who are expectantly awaiting the second advent of Jesus Christ. Do not let the worries of life overshadow your life because this is a joyful time of great expectation as we await the second advent of Jesus Christ.

Do you call the people around you to praise God for the great things He has done and the blessings He has given you? Do you desire God to work mightily in your life so that He will be glorified? “God be gracious to us and bless us, and cause His face to shine upon us– that Your way may be known on the earth, You salvation among all nations.” Psalm 67:1,2  The blessings that God has bestowed on us are a signpost pointing to His ultimate gift of salvation through Jesus Christ. Will you tell the world of all the blessings that God has bestowed upon you?

When God sent His son, Jesus Christ, to die on the cross we were redeemed and given sight to see the truth of God. Without God there is no justice for anyone throughout creation. Man continually strives against man taking both life and property but since God is sovereign and faithful the downtrodden has hope that justice will  one day be served; no deed will go unpunished or remain hidden. Hope endures for mankind because there is a just God that redeems and restores. When you are faced with injustice turn towards God and cling to His faithfulness, sovereignty and justice.

Job was faced with his way of life being disturbed and radically changed when his children, livestock and health were struck by Satan. Job had no foreknowledge that these events that transformed his life were ordained and allowed by God. His main concern was questioning why these events happened to him, an upright man who sought God above all. The knowledge and faith that Job had in God was great but his perspective on his situation was fixed inwardly and not upon God.

Without a proper perspective of God’s majesty and power we can never come to terms with our circumstances. We can have great knowledge of the Bible enabling us to recite facts, figures and events but when that knowledge is not based on a proper perspective of God it becomes complete foolishness. When God finally speaks with Job the infinite majesty of God bore down upon the finite being of Job. There was no longer concern for the whys of life because Job was faced with the exceedingly glorious God. No matter the circumstance that we find ourselves in we cannot hope to endure it without fully embracing God in the midst of it. Our natural tendency will be to use knowledge and wisdom to artfully overcome our situations but lasting peace in the midst of life will always be elusive without God.

What applications can be made from the book of Job to help in our moments of trial, trouble and tribulation? We need to guard ourselves from thinking that we know everything. We need to consistently run back to God and cling to Him every moment of every day. The way we view God will shape how we endure life. If the God you cling to is the all powerful Lord of Creation you will find strength and hope but a feeble perspective of God will only bring deeper despair in the times of calamity.

Learn to love God with all of your heart, mind, soul and strength as you envelope yourself with the truths of Scripture. The life that is lived clinging to God will be equipped to help others who are hurting. As 2 Corinthians 1 states, we receive comfort from God in the midst of our trouble and that comfort we receive in turn is used to help others enduring the same hardship. Was Job able to understand people who lost loves ones? Was Job able to relate to someone who had health problems? Was Job able to fathom the despair of losing income and wealth? As you endure the hardships of life fixated on God you will be uniquely placed to help many people around you. Do not give into the despair of your situation but run to God for your hope and comfort as you endure the stormy night. When morning comes you will find a hope for the future that will bring healing to others in the midst of the storm.

What brought about this change in how people viewed Job? Did the position Job hold with God change? The view God held of Job did not change so what is the real cause? Everyones perspective of Job’s life was based on the outward account of his life with his righteousness, favor, and help from God. Once people perceived that Job lost God’s favor they believed wholly that some evil in Job’s life has caused the calamity.  Did the people forget or overlook the deeds that Job performed throughout his life? Did the consistency of Job’s faith in God count for nothing?

We cannot be so hasty to base our relationship with God on the events of our lives. We cannot know how God is fulfilling his purposes for us through the circumstances. Stop looking at all the people surrounding you wondering how their walk with God is going. Focus on your own walk with God as you develop your love for Him.

Given Job’s temperament seen in chapter 17 would you expect to have a friend respond compassionately? Instead of offering comfort Bildad calls Job a fool in Job 18:2. He tells Job that he is insignificant in Job 18:4 and wicked in Job 18:5-21. Finally Bildad proclaims all his thoughts by claiming what has fallen upon Job is what happens to those who do not know God. When I hear these words I wonder what kind of friendship Job had actually developed with Bildad to have himself treated so poorly. To proclaim that the events of a person’s life are a direct result of their relationship God is presuming that you have the ability to discern the heart of God.

Have you ever felt like your hope for tomorrow was completely lost? Have you seen all your plans for life unravel as you helplessly watched? Have your circumstances ever made you despair and throw away your dreams for tomorrow? “My days are past, my plans are torn apart, evern the wishes of my heart.” Job 17:11  When you are face with moments when all hope is lost what do you do? At this point the story in Job is very sad and somber in a dark season of life. As we continue to read through the book of Job I am eager to read about the dawning of renewed hope.

When Zophar wishes God would speak in Job 11:5,6 did he really believe or want God to speak? Did God speak openly during the period we see in Job? Would we really desire God to openly speak to us? What would our reaction be if God spoke? In that instant all thoughts of conflict, blame and despair would fade away in the presence of God. How often do we casually reference God in our discussions? We need to rightly look upon God as the almighty creator that He is and stop the elevation ourselves to positions of prominence. As Zophar speaks the assumption of Job’s guilt continues and gains more direct wording. There are moments that I want a friend to speak boldly to me but when I am broken and fighting a despairing spirit I want a friend who will just be there with me.

Zophar questions Job as to what he really knows of God? How can one person presume to know more of the infinite God than another man. We are feeble in the presence of Lord God of heaven. Truths about God are presented by both Zophar and Job but thery are limited by their human perspective and unable to fully understand God. We are just as inept today as these men in the story of Job.

I again wonder why is this discussion taking place? How long did this discord between Job, Zophar, Bildad and Eliphaz take? Would the counsel of Job’s friends help a person who is dwelling in sin. These companions do not bring comfort in their accusations and advice. Job’s thoughts continue to be egocentric and he cannot fully release his circumstance into the sovereign hands of God. Why is it so difficult to give up control of our lives to God?

In chapter 12 Job replies to Zophar by reminding him that all he stated is common sense knowledge about God and all creation proclaims that God is firmly in control. With the truth that God is absolutely in control through the events of the life, what was Job desiring? There is a basic need to know why events happen and take place. Job wanted to know: “Why did my children die?”, “Why have I lost so much?”, “Why Lord, WHY!?”. In the moments that we face this insurmountable question what should we do? The fact that God ordains and allows all things was not enough to overcome the grief Job was living in. When Job desires for God to give Him an answer did he really think that it would come to pass?

When you face the ‘Why me?’ moments of life will you be able cling to God as you rest in Him? You need to know who God is to be able to rest in Him. Knowing God starts as you learn who He is moment by moment through consistent time in scripture. The problem that every believer faces is to continually turn away from the idols of life and seek to love the Lord with all that they are. Your hope to make it through the moments of despair and doubt is found in Jesus Christ alone.