An Unstoppable Resolve

Daily Devotional for March 20^th

Then Job arose, and rent his mantle, and shaved his head, and fell down upon the ground, and worshipped, And said, Naked came I out of my mother’s womb, and naked shall I return thither: the LORD gave, and the LORD hath taken away; blessed be the name of the LORD. In all this Job sinned not, nor charged God foolishly.  Job 1:20-22

Whether you’re a child of God or not, Job said he that is born of woman is of few days and full of trouble.  All of us have encountered times of great victories where the Lord seemed so near.  We’ve also had events take place in this world that literally shake us to our very core and foundation. With the presence of troubles and storms, the Lord seems so far away.  It is in our adversities and great catastrophes, we question God’s faithfulness to us. 

Since we live in a fallen world, we should not expect to live a life free of problems.  But when troubles come, it seems to change our view of God’s faithfulness.  The Lord never promised that you would be excluded from problems if you live for Him.  Oftentimes people question God when bad things happen to them or in their family.  Do these things cause you to feel like the Lord let you down?  It is at this point we must come to a fresh understanding about hard times.

While God truly intends to bless His people so that our blessings are a testimony to the world, our relationship with God should grow to a point where we love God for who He is , and not just for what He can provide.  Many people have forsook following the Lord simply because a situation or circumstance didn’t end the way they thought it should have.  They became hurt that God allowed things into their lives.  The hurt then turned to anger toward God.  The anger turns to forsaking God.  This is all due to a misunderstanding of God’s character.

When the last messenger came to Job revealing the state of his children, Job rent his mantle and fell to worship God.  He did not charge the Lord foolishly.  How was Job able to do this?  He understood the Lord would never do anything like this to him because he knew God is good.  He knew this because he knew God; he knew the character of God.  God’s character is constantly attacked by the world. 

Apostle Paul endured much persecution for his faith in Jesus Christ.  He was ridiculed, mocked, beat with stripes, scourged; the list is long.  2 Corinthians 11:24-27.  Satan seeks to stop you from living for God at all costs.  Once you understand the love of Christ in how rich and pure it is, you’ll never question why your circumstances are what they are.  We know that all things work together for  the good to them who love God, to them that are the called according to His purpose.  Romans 8:28.  Once we understand God will never ever, never, author bad things in your life, it will generate an unstoppable resolve to live for Him.  God will never do you nothing but good friend.  Even though hard times will come, God will also come to your rescue.  He is faithful to deliver you and be a present help in trouble.