Do you recall the story of Job in the Bible? He had everything. A wonderful wife, children, health, family, support of friends, and wealth. He was the head and not the tail, the lender not the borrower, a leader that was looked to for wisdom and knowledge. He was respected by his community. He was a righteous man that stood with God who was blameless and upright.

“But one day when the sons of God came to present themselves before the Lord, and Satan (the adversary and accuser) also came among them. And the Lord said to Satan, From where did you come? Then Satan answered the Lord, From going to and from on the earth and from walking up and down on it. And 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 [reverently] fears God and abstains from and shuns evil [because it is wrong]? Then Satan answered the Lord, Does Job [reverently] fear God for nothing? Have You not put a hedge about him and his house and all that he has, on every side? You have conferred prosperity and happiness upon him in the work of his hands, and his possessions have increased in the land. But put forth Your hand now and touch all that he has, and he will curse You to Your face. And the Lord said to Satan, Behold all that he has is in your power, only upon the man himself put not forth the hand. So Satan went forth from the present of the Lord.” (Job 1:6-12)

Then all of a sudden, Job found himself losing everything. Satan stole all of Job’s oxen and donkeys, slayed his servants, burned the sheep and servants attending the sheep, raided his camels and slayed those servants attending his camels and killed all of his children too. To make things even worse, his wife cursed Job and told him to die and his loyal friends came to console him while accusing him of wrongdoing. Just when you think it couldn’t get worse for Job, it did. Satan smote Job with loathsome and painful sores from the sole of his foot to the crown of his head. (Job 2:7) Everything was gone in a day.

As you read Job, he goes through the various emotions that we would all feel; anger, pain, sadness, depression, weakness, and the feelings of being lost. He even gets to the point of wondering why he was even born and that it would have been better if he had never lived. He started wondering why his so-called loyal friends turned against him in his desperate need of their comfort.

By this time, most people would have started cursing the Lord and directing their pain and anger towards Him. They would have started questioning everything they know about the Lord and wondered what did they do wrong to deserve all of this excruciating pain. The “Why God Why” syndrome. However Job did just the opposite and said “Shall we accept [only] good at the hand of God and shall we not accept [also] misfortune…? (Job 2:9-10) Verse 10 actually continues to say Job did not sin with his lips. That’s an amazing statement when all chaos surrounded him.

We have an adversary. One who is trying to kill and destroy us. (John 10:10) One who is trying to make us give up and curse the Lord for our misfortunes.

What has Satan done to you lately? Have you found yourself losing your possessions, your health, your friends and family, your employment, or anything else that means something to you?

Don’t give up. Don’t let go of God. Don’t let Satan rob you of your Heavenly Father! Because you can be like Job in whatever circumstance you find yourself in. Keep talking and giving your cares, pain, suffering, and anger to God. He will fill you with strength, courage, and wisdom. Job kept his faith strong and found that it wasn’t the end for him. He repented for the things he said during his grief and even forgave his misguided friends. By standing with God through it all, he found himself restored far greater than he was originally. God rewarded him double for his trouble. (Job 42:10-13)

Today I wish to encourage you to keep standing and believing that God is working everything out for your good and He still has a good plan for your life. He will make the impossibles possible. There is nothing Satan can do to you that God won’t work out for your benefit. Let go of the pain, suffering, anger, hatred, sadness, and lack; and let God be your strength. For you may look defeated right now, but you will end up with double for your trouble. God says it, so it will be done!

Note: Please disregard any advertisement you may encounter under this posting as the author does not endorse them. Thank you.