For June 12, 2022
The Old Testament patriarch, Job, whose life is featured in the Bible book that bears his name, helps us find encouragement in today’s turbulent world. The NLT Bible depicts Job as a man who was “blameless with complete integrity,” and that he “feared God and stayed away from evil.” (Job 1:1)
The Lord blessed both him and his wife with children and abundant wealth. Yet, according to His infinite foreknowledge and wisdom, God allowed Satan to take away almost everything he had—including his health.
However, never losing his faith in God, Job recognizes the frailty of the human 
life. In addition, the wisest man who ever lived, King Solomon, follows up on this narrative when he observes how our life after death is the “great equalizer,”
Riches won’t help on the day of judgment, but right living can save you from death. When the wicked die, their hopes die with them, for they rely on their own feeble strength. Proverbs 11:4, 4 (NLT)
In today’s mixed up world, it often appears that we increasingly embolden the wicked to commit wickedness… with impunity. However, they may seem to get by, but they will never get away,
For the LORD sees clearly what a man does, examining every path he takes. An evil man is held captive by his own sins; they are ropes that catch and hold him. He will die for lack of self-control; he will be lost because of his great foolishness. Proverbs 5:21-23 (NLT)
Job builds on the idea of justice and retribution under the authority of the Righteous Judge and discloses his unwavering faith in the Lord,
But as for me, I know that my Redeemer lives, and he will stand upon the earth at last. And after my body has decayed, yet in my body I will see God! I will see him for myself. Yes, I will see him with my own eyes. I am overwhelmed at the thought! Job 19:25-27 (NLT)
Job submitted to God by remaining patient in tribulation (Romans 12:12), as he withstood the faith test. In the end, God blessed him with more than he had before the period of testing began.
Again, Job never lost faith in God, even under the most disheartening of circumstances. Instead, he was absolutely convinced that even under the most severe of trials, the Lord was in complete control of his life and circumstances!
With the vicissitudes associated with our fleeting life, we are mere pilgrims swiftly traveling toward a certain eternal destiny,
How frail is humanity! How short is life, how full of trouble! We blossom like a flower and then wither. Like a passing shadow, we quickly disappear. (Job 14:1-2 NLT)
In the end, God is worthy of our faith in all things. His people can find encouragement knowing that He is sovereign in His power and dominion. Thus, He has established limits on all of Satan’s evil schemes and devices while He perfects His will in us,
We can rejoice, too, when we run into problems and trials, for we know that they help us develop endurance. And endurance develops strength of character, and character strengthens our confident hope of salvation. And this hope will not lead to disappointment. For we know how dearly God loves us, because he has given us the Holy Spirit to fill our hearts with his love. Romans 5:3-5 (NLT)
Job also affirms how our Lord wants to complete His perfect work in us by any means necessary,
If someone dies, will they live again? All the days of my hard service I will wait for my renewal to come. Job 14:14 (NIV)
After a life of patient waiting, a glorious renewal comes to us through Jesus Christ, our Lord and Savior. We who have been to the cross by faith and saw the nail prints in His hand and feet; we believe He died for our sins and rose for our justification. Under the power of the Holy Spirit, we fight the good fight knowing we have the ultimate victory.
Burdened by the weight of our trials, we can lose sight of how God is performing His perfect work in us and for us. The fear of being oppressed and/or destroyed by Satan may interrupt our joy in the Lord momentarily. But we can take comfort knowing that he has neither the power nor the ability to destroy us because we belong to God,
We are pressed on every side by troubles, but we are not crushed. We are perplexed, but not driven to despair. We are hunted down, but never abandoned by God. We get knocked down, but we are not destroyed. Through suffering, our bodies continue to share in the death of Jesus so that the life of Jesus may also be seen in our bodies. 2 Corinthians 4:8-10 (NLT)
Further,
That is why we never give up. Though our bodies are dying, our spirits are being renewed every day. For our present troubles are small and won’t last very long. Yet they produce for us a glory that vastly outweighs them and will last forever! So we don’t look at the troubles we can see now; rather, we fix our gaze on things that cannot be seen. For the things we see now will soon be gone, but the things we cannot see will last forever. 2 Corinthians 4:16-18 (NLT)
Our trials are not our destruction. And by His power, we can exercise patient endurance while waiting for His deliverance, which will happen in a manner whereby He receives the glory—not us.
Be encouraged; we shall live and reign with Christ forever in glory! Then, God will give us rest from all of our labors as we share eternity with Him. Won’t you trust Christ today, and experience His lasting peace, joy, and encouragement that can soothe troubled hearts?
What a Wonderful Savior!