A wise man once said, “Conflict is never about what’s happening on the surface—there’s always much more at stake.” Chances are that Job would have agreed with that statement. He found himself thrust suddenly and forcefully into heartbreak of catastrophic proportions. His livestock, fields, servants, and children were all destroyed in one day.
In the midst of the turmoil, his wife urged him to curse God and die. Job wisely shunned this counsel, but he did demand an audience with God to plead his case (Job 13:3,15). When God finally responded, He did so with questions of His own (Job 38:1-2). Rather than receiving the answers he sought, Job encountered the sovereignty of God (Job 38:4). Humbly, he acknowledged that God’s ways were ultimately righteous and just—even if they were beyond his understanding (Job 42:1-3).
This reaction was proof of Job’s character—tested, but shining with a God-honoring radiance. Although he never knew it this side of eternity, Job was caught up in a fierce battle to test his faith and faithfulness. The tragedies that befell him were just a pretext for an attempt by Satan to get him to renounce his God and faith (Job 1:12).
While we have the benefit of the background to Job’s story, we rarely do when it comes to our own. And when we’re faced with a paradox of perplexing and unfair circumstances, there’s a strong temptation to denounce God’s justice. But instead of choosing to “curse God and die,” we can seek the heart of the God of the universe. As we encounter Him, our perspectives will be transformed and we’ll learn to trust His wisdom.
Only God knows the full story every time. As we rest in Him, He’ll use each chapter of our lives for our good and His glory.
NLT 365-day reading plan passage for today: John 8:1-20
More:
Read Romans 9:19-23 and see what Paul writes about God’s just and sovereign ways.
Next:
When have you missed an opportunity to follow God’s guidance during a difficult time? How will you choose to rest in His wise and loving plans in the future?
Gary Shultz on July 29, 2016 at 6:21 am
Hi Remi, I’m not sure what “art” looks like to different people, but in those passages of Job, God describes the work of His hand in what Job saw and knew of his world. From the foundations of the earth itself sweeping to fierce animals, to even the rooster. God took Job on a short text book lesson of what he knew and He ask Job to once again look at the author and maker of these things that composed the earth itself. No detailed account of heaven, no description of angelic glory, just magnificence we all bump into. To be sure answering the question of Roman’s 1. God is enough, God revels enough, but His glory, wisdom, work and magnificence are more than we can ever imagine. So much more could be learned from this passage; however, bringing us here was a spiritual gift. Thanks Remi!
remioyedele2015 on July 29, 2016 at 9:47 am
Amen, Gary – God is definitely enough!! I pray that the truth of those words truly embeds in our hearts today and always. Thank you so much for your words of wisdom.
Be blessed!
Remi
gagirllive on July 29, 2016 at 8:05 am
Amen, Remi. We could camp out here for a while. Seems like everybody is carrying a load of hurt these days. Trials are inevitable, and we must learn how to respond to them, and more importantly, to our Sovereign God in the midst of them. I’m so thankful we have the encouragement of the scriptures and the help of the Holy Spirit to guide us in that response. Job’s example is especially priceless to us as we learn to navigate through life’s adversities. The bottom line is always going to be trusting God, isn’t it? It’s what He’s always after from us. We really don’t know how much we trust Him until our faith is put on trial. What will be the verdict? Can we lay down our sense of entitlement to understand and simply rest in His perfect love, wisdom, and power? For me, it’s a daily—even moment by moment—DECISION to do that. God is God and I am not. He sees in full, and I see in part…and even that not very clearly. What I do see clearly though is His greatest demonstration of love for me in sending His Son Jesus to the cross to redeem me. If Job could advance through his trials while looking towards the cross, then I most certainly can advance through mine on this side of it. My Redeemer lives! And because of that, all is well. Thanks for bringing us this encouragement today, Remi. A blessed weekend to you and to all my fellow sojourners!
remioyedele2015 on July 29, 2016 at 9:51 am
Hello gagirl,
I SO hear you re: the “daily, moment by moment decision to lay down our sense of entitlement to unserstand and simply rest in His perfect love, wisdome and power”! Life often feels like a rollercoaster ride – we’re brimming over with faith one moment and scraping bottom of the barrel the next. Thank God for His infinite patience and grace as we seek to honor Him in and with all that we are.
Be blessed my sister,
Remi
alexaoj on July 29, 2016 at 8:53 am
Thank you sister R.O. for your insight. It reminds me of ROM. 8:28. When I look back on my own life, I know now that the enemy meant evil in my circumstances and challenges. But God was always there drawing me to Himself, no matter how difficult and hard life was for me. Jesus came to us showing us that we have a whole heap of wonderful tomorrows, because we placed our trust in His finished work on Calvery. So we must give Him our past and walk with Him in our present situations and trust Him for our future, after all He is the Great I Am, not I was. Stay bless saints of God.
remioyedele2015 on July 29, 2016 at 9:53 am
Amen, Alexa – thank you so much for sharing your heart!! May we all see the manifestation of God’s glorious plans for us, which are exceeding, abundantly above anything we could ever ask or think in Jesus Name!
Be blessed,
Remi
Mike Wittmer on July 29, 2016 at 11:49 am
This is strong word, Remi. We can cry to the God who Himself has suffered the most from evil, and Who through that suffering has conquered it. May God give us the faith of Job.
remioyedele2015 on July 29, 2016 at 12:03 pm
Amen, Mike – Amen!!
godlove on July 29, 2016 at 2:17 pm
It’s difficult, impossible even, to imagine what it must have felt like for Job, so I won’t venture to question the fact that he questioned the Sovereign God. However, recognising and being grateful for everything that our Almighty God has done in my life puts me in a situation where I’m confident that my life lies safely in His hands and it is for Him to make of it what He wills, always for the best according to His infinite wisdom. In Isaiah 55:9 the Lord says, “For just as the heavens are higher than the earth, so my ways are higher than your ways and my thoughts higher than your thoughts.” Therefore, may we rest in the knowledge that He always has a plan which is nothing like we can imagine, always keeping our faith and trusting in His divine plans. Thank you for this great post, Remi. Blessed weekend to all.
curlycue123 on July 29, 2016 at 2:50 pm
Hello everyone. I just joined this website and I’m already loving it. I’ve been trying to find ways to spend some time with God and this website gives me an opportunity to do that. God has spoken to me about what he wants me to do and he wants me to write. So one of the questions today I had a response to so here it is:
I’ve miss a lot of opportunities for God’s guidance. Probably the main one is doing what he has called me to do. Thinking about the future is hard for me. I’m not even really sure what I’m going to be doing in the future. I have 3 more years of high school. Whenever I think about what I want to do in the future I have no idea what I want to do and I stress out about it. God has told me that he wants me to write and spend time with him. What I struggle with is that sometimes I just blow that off. I then started thinking. I worry so much about the future instead of thinking about what’s happening now. If I want to know what’s going to happen with me in the future, I need to do what God is telling me to do now, which is to write and spend time with him. Proverbs 3: 5-6 – Trust in the Lord with all your heart; do not depend on your own understanding, Seek his will in all you do, and he will show you which path to take.
godlove on July 29, 2016 at 4:26 pm
Welcome to the family curlycue! You seem to have already found a good answer to your personal questions from the passage of Scripture you quoted. Nice to have a new voice in here with us. It would be nice to read more from you as the Spirit guides you. Just open your heart to God, have faith and allow Him to lead you. Be blessed.
hsnpoor on July 30, 2016 at 10:57 am
Curlycue (love the name!), I echo godlove & Gary’s welcome and am excited about your virgin voyage onto the site. Your sharing was fresh and informative and I look forward to hearing more from you. Curly, I’m in my 60’s and I’ve been walking with the Lord for 25-years and I’m still struggling with the Lord’s call on my life. But one thing that I know that I know, that I know is that he calls us to draw near to Him above all else. To read his word, pray, tell others about Him and help others that cross your path and that he puts on your heart to do so. At 14-15 years of age, I hope, pray and trust you have a long time to walk with The Lord on this earth. Remember it is a walk, not a sprint. Can you recall anytime in scripture where Jesus was in a hurry or running? I can’t. If you feel lead to write, write on, and I’m sure we’ll happily be the recipients of your labor. I’m not telling you what and what not to do, but Jesus had some very instructive words about worry in Mt. 6:25-34. If you’re not familiar, I urge you to read this scripture and take it to heart. I live in a section of the country where young people are actually losing their lives in alarming numbers because of the worry and pressure of trying to be “the best”, not realizing that’s really not possible outside of a relationship with their Creator and having very few people, if any, (parents included) who are speaking into their lives in a godly way. It’s heartbreaking &’troubling. You, on the other hand, are just the opposite! Didn’t mean to go on & on, but there you have it. Welcome and may God bless you richly!
Gary Shultz on July 29, 2016 at 4:15 pm
Hi Curlycue: I loved the name so I had to read your post I don’t often get to respond or chat, but I am sooooo delighted that you have and are investing time with God. I really think you have it down anyway, spending time in God’s presence is of invaluable importance. God will be faithful to you in your struggles. What a great opportunity just to chat with you, it is so great to hear from a young person, it encourages an old buzzard like me.