Lessons From Job

I've been spending time in Job and while nothing truly earth-shattering has happened in my thinking, I have been challenged (once again) to re-examine my motives, my expectations, and my focus. In the book of Job, Satan misunderstood Job's purpose for his devotion to God. Satan thought if he could strip Job of all the things that made his life comfortable and secure then Job would turn from His Father. He did not understand that Job's love for God was not based on THINGS but on a relationship that had been nurtured and growed and deepened as days turned to weeks and to months and to years. It wasn't based on material things. It was based on heart security. Job had steadfast trust. He was able to say, "Though He slay me, yet will I trust." He also knew that relief from his anguish might not be immediate but it would SOME day be realized. "All the days of my appointed time will I wait, til my change come."

One of Job's big problems was that he was "righteous in his own eyes and he justified himself rather than God." An article I was reading pointed out that the turning point in Job's trials and suffering came when he changed his focus. He took his eyes off of self, looked outward and, "The Lord restored Job's losses when he prayed for his friends." There are so many take-aways from this. So many things to think about and pray about and confess and rejoice about and take courage from and feel hope about. Things I know should be done but maybe my heart isn't in it as much as my head. 

Here is one of my favorite verses that I've carried around with me last week and this week in my pocket:

"I know that my Redeemer lives and He will stand on the Earth. I will see God. I will see Him for myself."

I will see Him. For myself.

Because He is my Redeemer.

And He lives.