Things may appear so wonderful for a time and then all of a sudden, turmoil hits us hard. I can’t explain why this happens, but most people have gone through this before. All I know is that in life, things aren’t always perfect, but can get really hard, even to the point of depression and grief. Because of sickness, financial issues, addiction, relationship problems, and deaths in the family, this can leave us feeling very sad. It was Job who felt the same things when he lost his children, almost all he had, and even his friends turned against him. And after not getting any comfort from his friends, the Lord came to Job in all his anguish. This is when God unfolded unto him his beautiful creation and told him to rise up like a man. You will know this if you have been reading Job, up until this last chapter 42. It was then in this chapter that Job said to God, “I know that thou canst do every thing, and that no thought can be withholden from thee. Who is he that hideth counsel without knowledge? therefore have I uttered that I understood not; things too wonderful for me, which I knew not. Hear, I beseech thee, and I will speak: I will demand of thee, and declare thou unto me. I have heard of thee by the hearing of the ear: but now mine eye seeth thee. Wherefore I abhor myself, and repent in dust and ashes.” (Job 42:2-6) In his humility, Job repented of his sins. God knew that he could get over these trials, but he needed to put his whole trust in Him first, while allowing Him to move in his life. That is why God appeared to Job in a whirlwind. And because Job saw himself as a sinner and needed forgiveness, God’s mercy was upon him.
It was then that God told Eliphaz that his “wrath is kindled against thee, and against thy two friends: for ye have not spoken of me the thing that is right, as my servant Job hath. Therefore take unto you now seven bullocks and seven rams, and go to my servant Job, and offer up for yourselves a burnt offering; and my servant Job shall pray for you: for him will I accept: lest I deal with you after your folly, in that ye have not spoken of me the thing which is right, like my servant Job. So Eliphaz the Temanite and Bildad the Shuhite and Zophar the Naamathite went, and did according as the Lord commanded them: the Lord also accepted Job.” (Job 42:7-9) So his friends were rightly rebuked by God by how they treated and prejudged Job. “And the Lord turned the captivity of Job, when he prayed for his friends: also the Lord gave Job twice as much as he had before.” (Job 42:10) And so it was that Job repented and began praying for his friends also. This is when his whole life turned around for the better. It was then that there came “unto him all his brethren, and all his sisters, and all they that had been of his acquaintance before, and did eat bread with him in his house: and they bemoaned him, and comforted him over all the evil that the Lord had brought upon him.” (Job 42:11) Job got more back then he lost and even had more children, even “seven sons and three daughters.” (Job 42:13) Wow! What a joyous ending to a person who most people thought would never recover. What we know is that when we cry out to God for answers and also pray for others, is when our life does get better.
Let us pray:
Oh Lord, this day I cry out to You for answers. Help me to know Your will for myself and for others. May I learn how to treat people with Your love, respect, and kindness. I love it when You are merciful to me and pray that I might be so merciful to others when they have said or done things bad things to me. In my own mind, I cannot love on these people as You do, but only treat them poorly and say things I shouldn’t. Therefore, I pray that there will be no more walls built up, but only love shown back to all people. Tear down any walls and hard feelings towards anyone still, and give me over to love on them. I love You, Lord, and wish that all people could experience Your same love. What would be even better if people could come to know You personally, as I have, and be saved. So I pray that You will light up my life. May people see You in me and then glorify You, God, in heaven. On my own, I am a wretched sinner and nothing different than people in the world, but with You in my life, I am lifted up in Your might and strength. My faith is alive and I can do all things by Your mighty hand. So Lord, help me to always remember You and to continue to have clean hands and a pure heart. May Your desires become mine also, that I might go forth and accomplish Your will for mankind. In these things I pray, knowing that You are right there with me. I give You praise and honor. I love You so much. Help me, even all my days. Amen.
