by: John Harris
Job 1:1, “There was a man in the land of Uz, whose name was Job; and that man was perfect and upright, and one that feared God, and eschewed evil.”
We give the Devil too much credit many times in life’s trials. If something bad happens to us, we are quick to blame Satan.
Job 1:1 says that Job was “perfect and upright, and one that feared God, and eschewed evil.” Job was thought of highly in Scripture. He was known as God-fearing.
However, Job 1:8 says, “And the LORD said unto Satan, Hast thou considered my servant Job, that there is none like him in the earth, a perfect and an upright man, one that feareth God, and escheweth evil?” Notice that God pointed Job out. It was God that told Satan that he could do whatever he wished, except to kill Job.
A few verses later we witness Job hitting rock bottom. His land is gone, all of his children are killed, and Job lost everything save his wife. Could you imagine the emotional, spiritual and physical affects that took a toll upon Job.
In chapter 1, Job shows us that proper way to handle trials.
1. Job immediately ran to God.
Verse 20 says, “Then Job arose, and rent his mantle, and shaved his head, and fell down upon the ground, and worshipped,”
Seems that when we have troubles come our way, we run away from the presence of the Lord. The worse thing to do is to try to go through this battle without walking with the Lord. Think about it like this, troubles will come our way no matter what, but only God can comfort you in a way that no one or nothing else could.
2. Job learned to accept this trial.
Verse 21 says, “And said, Naked came I out of my mother’s womb, and naked shall I return thither: the LORD gave, and the LORD hath taken away; blessed be the name of the LORD.”
Notice that even though it was hard to accept it, Job knew what was done was done, and he learned to live with it. It was all in God’s hands.
When I was a freshman in Bible College, I was in a car accident that almost ended my life. At the hospital the doctors found out that my femur shattered. For five weeks, I was in the hospital enduring the emotional and physical stress that was placed upon me.
I now walk with a limp for the rest of my life. Before this accident, I was very active in sports, I loved playing football and baseball, and I was in tournaments for mixed martial arts. I had to accept the fact that those days are over. I can no longer be involved with sports like the way I used to be. I had to accept it and eventually God gave me peace.
3. Job stayed faithful.
Verse 22 says, “In all this Job sinned not, nor charged God foolishly.”
When we are going through trials, we need to stay faithful to the things of God. When we start looking back, we may turn into a pillar of salt like Lot’s wife. The worse thing we can do is run from God when things are tough. When we turn back, we will blame God when He is proving Himself through us. When we are going through trials, we need to stay in church, continue to pray and read our Bibles, continue to go soul winning, invest in others, tithe, give to missions, and so on. You never know who may be saved because you stayed faithful.
We never know what storms will come our way, but I do know this, I would prefer to go through the storms with God than without Him. The storm will eventually pass over us.
John Harris
Missionary to Belize