BELIEVING IN WHO GOD IS AND MY RELATIONSHIP WITH HIM

After Job shared his feelings and his friends finished their arguments, God finally spoke to him. However, God did not answer Job about the reason he suffered. Instead, God responded by questioning Job about the vastness of the universe. He asked Job where he was when the earth was made, how the stars were placed, and if he controls the weather, oceans, and wild animals (Job 38-39). God spoke about the massive creatures like Behemoth and Leviathan, which humans cannot control or understand (Job 40-41). God spoke all of these things to Job to point out to him that human wisdom is too small to know and understand His wisdom. In other words, God wanted Job to trust Him in His suffering because he would never understand His wisdom and power. After Job heard God's response, Job responded to God with these words, "I know that you can do anything, and no one can stop you. You asked, 'Who is this that questions my wisdom with such ignorance?' It is I—and I was talking about things I knew nothing about, things far too wonderful for me. You said, 'Listen and I will speak! I have some questions for you, and you must answer them.' I had only heard about you before, but now I have seen you with my own eyes. I take back everything I said, and I sit in dust and ashes to show my repentance."

Although Job did not get the answer that he wanted from God, he was fully satisfied with the answer that he received from God because it made him realize that he could trust God's wisdom and power to take care of him, even though he could not understand the reason for his suffering. One of the most important lessons we can learn from Job is that he trusted in who God is and his relationship with Him, and not so much in what God can do in His life. In the end, Job believed that no matter what God permitted in his life, whether it be pain or suffering, God would take care of him. Although Job did not completely understand the reason for his suffering, he still trusted the great wisdom and power of God, which is beyond his understanding. Through his suffering, he learned to completely trust God. Eventually, God restored Job. Although Job lost a lot, God blessed the second half of his life. Job 42:12-13 says, "So the Lord blessed Job in the second half of his life even more than in the beginning. For now he had 14,000 sheep, 6,000 camels, 1,000 teams of oxen, and 1,000 female donkeys. He also gave Job seven more sons and three more daughters."

Let us completely trust God even though we cannot fully understand the reason for our suffering. God's vast wisdom and power will take care of us, and He will hold us in His powerful, gracious, and loving arms. No matter what circumstances we are in, God takes care of us and will never abandon or forsake us. 

Questions for application: (Think through these questions carefully, meditate on them while answering them, and let the Spirit of God speak to you.) Do I completely trust God in my suffering even though I do not understand the suffering that I am going through? Why is it that it is more important to trust God for who He is and my relationship with Him than what he can do in my life? What is the important lesson that I learned from Job's life story?

Take a moment to write down all your worries today. Then, lift them up to God in prayer, surrendering them to His will and trusting in His guidance.

Prayer:

Dear Father in Heaven, I trust in who you are and my relationship with you, for you will never forsake or abandon me as your child. No matter what you allow into my life, I believe that you will take care of me. There are many things that I do not understand, but I trust in your wisdom. Many things are beyond my physical strength, but I trust in your power. I may doubt and question you, but you are much greater than my doubts and complaints. Thank you for being my God, Lord, and Savior. In the name of Jesus, I pray. Amen.