GOOD FOR YOU!

My kids and I have been reading through the Book of Job. There isn’t a good time to read the Book of Job, but if you’re feeling particularly fragile—I would hold off on that one. It’s a downer.

Anyway, we just finished 42 weekdays of reading Job a chapter a day and sharing what we sense God’s thoughts are on what Job and his friends discuss.

If you’ve never read Job’s story, here’s the quick rundown. He’s a man who loved God and lost ev-e-ry-thing, including his health and social status, only to lay on his sickbed arguing with his “friends” about how he got in this bind and what it would take to get out of it.

NEWSFLASH…

Every single one of them was wrong. Why? They didn’t know what God knew and couldn’t see what he saw.

God didn’t hate Job. He wasn’t out to get him. The truth is the exact opposite. It was God bragging about Job that started the whole thing.

And all knowing as he is, God knew he would restore everything Job lost and more. But he used the opportunity to adjust Job’s attitude.

Job knew how to believe for the best when he was flourishing, but not when he was suffering. And suffering is where you and I found ourselves many times in our lives, especially last year.

And when you’ve experienced profound suffering, it’s tempting to respond one of two ways. (1) Believe you’re a cursed stepdaughter doomed to suffer forever OR (2) remember you belong to the Most High God who is faithful to keep his promises—promises that don’t depend on how the situation looks to you.

HERE’S A PROMISE…

“For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “Plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.” Jeremiah 29:11, NIV

So, not only does he know the plans (catch that there’s more than one), the Lord doesn’t always share them with you. That’s one of the perks of being God. Just ask Job.

But God assures you his plans for you are good (as it says in the New Living Translation). The Lord’s not out here trying to ruin your life, or standing idly by watching you struggle in rough waters (I’ve believed that a time or two).

He is the Savior, and he has something in motion to save but do you “trust him when you can’t trace him?”

ANOTHER PROMISE TO THOSE WHO TRUST GOD…

“I have chosen you and have not rejected you. So do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you; I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.” Isaiah 41:9-10, NIV

Now this promise right here hangs on my mirror because it’s easy to equate rough times with rejection. Then next thing you know, you’re dismayed, believing God abandoned you. No ma’am. He stakes his reputation on those two “I wills.” If he’s your God, he’s got a good grip on you and will certainly carry out all his plans (Jeremiah 1:12, NLT).

Now your friend Job started out the first way. He went from wishing he was dead to wagging his finger at God demanding to know what he did to “deserve all this.”

And God’s answer humbled me just reading it. Because he helped Job and his little friends understand there’s a whole host of things they don’t know and don’t have the capacity to know because their minds can’t handle it all!

And isn’t that the truth for you and me? This world is such a hot mess. There’s so much evil in it—stuff we experience and stuff we contribute to—that if God even tried to explain how he’s working out our situation, he’d literally blow our minds.

By the way, not only did God restore double what Job lost, he blessed Job to father more children, and to live to 140!

So, my friend, if you’ve put your faith in Jesus Christ, just know there will be days, even seasons, where faith in him is all you know. But trust his heart—that he’s a good God with a good plan for his baby girl. It may take a little time for it to all come together, but sit tight. It’s going to be good!

I’m rooting for you!

WEAR YOUR FAITH

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