Dealing with Adversity

Day 141

Reading: Job 1:1 - Job 4:21

Suffering is a topic we don't like to discuss. Going through problems or experiencing challenges is one thing no one likes. The Book of Job is associated with challenges. Many don't like reading it today because they feel its an invitation to challenges. Many others feel that it obscures the view of a good God that they have of God. In doing this they misunderstand that the Book of Job is a good lesson on dealing with the challenges of this world. Life will always have challenges as it is not smooth sailing forever. Just as the sea will have storms the Book of Job makes us understand how to deal with storms in life.

What caused Job to go through his suffering? Have you ever asked yourself that question? Whenever we go through challenges we are used to asking why me. While this is not a bad question it's not a great question. The question one should ask foremost is what is the source of this trouble I am facing? Once you identify the trouble then everything else lines up. In Job's case, there are a number of factors to consider.

Firstly, God boasted about Job to the devil and allowed the enemy to strike disaster. Not once but twice did God boast about Job. The first time God boasted about Job, the devil said that the reason Job loved God was because God's hedge of protection was on everything he had. God removed it and allowed disaster to strike at Job. Only his wife and the remaining servants who came to report the loses remained. Yet Job didn't curse God. Instead, he worshipped God. The devil soon came to God and as God boasted of how faithful Job was the devil retorts that the reason Job didn't curse God is that his body wasn't touched. God allows the devil to torment Job but not to take his life. Again Job didn't curse God. 

The second reason Job went through his suffering was simply because of fear. What you fear will soon fall on you. Fear invites the devil while faith attracts God. Job on losing his wealth and health reveals that all the happenings were what he feared most. Today's world is filled with many diseases and afflictions all over. To live in fear is to invite trouble. Many people live in fear of lack. Any wonder why they are in lack? 

Whilst going through trouble be careful who speaks into your life. Also be careful what you say. Job's wife urged him to curse God. The worst thing a close friend or spouse can do is when you are down to give you a knife to finish yourself. When Job's wife urged him to curse God she committed the same sin as Eve by bringing the forbidden fruit to her husband, however, Job refused to join her, unlike Adam. 

Trouble reveals the depth of your faith and trust in God. Challenges reveal the real you. When we go through trials or sufferings in any area of life understand that we are being sifted by the enemy while God is boasting about you to the enemy as long as we are faithful to God. Keep the faith! We win when standing in God in the midst of adversity.

Memory Verse: Job 1:21

Decree:

Lord help me to stand strong in the midst of any challenge. Thank You for boasting of me. I choose to worship You Lord in the midst of the fiery furnace. It will be said of me that I was blameless and upright before God and one who feared God.