It's Not Always What We Think It Is

Job 1:6-12 Now there was a day when the sons of God came to present themselves before the Lord, and Satan also came among them. And the Lord said to Satan, “From where do you come?” So Satan answered the Lord and said, “From going to and fro on the earth, and from walking back and forth on it.” Then the Lord said to Satan, “Have you considered My servant Job, that there is none like him on the earth, a blameless and upright man, one who fears God and shuns evil?” So Satan answered the Lord and said, “Does Job fear God for nothing? Have You not made a hedge around him, around his household, and around all that he has on every side? You have blessed the work of his hands, and his possessions have increased in the land. But now, stretch out Your hand and touch all that he has, and he will surely curse You to Your face!” And the Lord said to Satan, “Behold, all that he has is in your power; only do not lay a hand on his person.” So Satan went out from the presence of the Lord.

One of the saddest things about Job's story, besides the fact that all his children were killed, he lost everything, and ended up suffering serious health issues, was the fact that he had so called friends who came alongside him and made the situation worse. The greatest thing they did, as his friends, were to do what they did initially, and that was to just sit silently with Job. The moment they opened their mouths was the moment they added to Job's sorrows and difficulties. Far too often, in our attempts to comfort and help those who are suffering, we add to their pain by presuming to know the reasons why they may be suffering hardship. Right from the beginning we know that Job's trials started because God was holding him up before Satan as a man who lived a righteous life. After Satans accusations, God allowed him to attack Job's life, but set boundaries that Satan could not cross. In later chapters, Job's friends falsely assumed that his suffering was the result of sin in his life. Although they spoke some truths about who God is, and what God will do to those who work evil, their advise was completely useless based on the real reason Job's suffering was allowed. The fact of the matter was that God initiated the circumstances by exalting Job, and even when Satan attacked, God was aware of everything that was happening to Job. God had a plan to restore all that Job lost, but allowed the tragedies to occur in order to proves Job's faithfulness to Satan; and to ultimately prove His own faithfulness to Job, and glorify Himself through those circumstances. So to those of us who may be suffering without explanation, know that God knows. Trust Him through whatever He is allowing, because He is faithful and will work it all for good and His glory. For those of us who are friends to those who are suffering, before we begin to assume and give advise, we must remember this one thing, "It's not always what we think it is!"

Today, God extends an invitation to you to accept His free gift of salvation (Romans 6:23). Will you accept it? Anyone who calls on Jesus, by faith, in repentance, confessing your sins, will receive eternal life. Do not put off calling on Him, and receive His free gift of salvation today (Romans 10:13).