Trials and Tribulations

At some time or another we have all felt like Job, wondering why God has allowed us to endure such trials, tribulations, and suffering. The Book of Job records the concerning questions, the terrifying doubts, and the anguish of a sufferer.

 One of the reasons I wanted to start this blog was to inspire others, individuals who had suffered from a tragic and hurtful childhood, individuals who struggled daily with illnesses, individuals who struggle with life in general. I want you to know that anything is possible through Christ! Healing from physical, mental, and emotional ailments, freedom from the bondage that you live in daily, forgiveness of even the most heinous sins, it's all within reach.

In the first chapter of Job, we learn that he was a blameless and upright man who feared God and shunned evil. He had a large family; seven sons and three daughters born to him. He had many possessions, 1:3; His possessions were seven thousand camels, five hundred yoke of oxen, five hundred female donkeys, and a very large household, so that this man was the greatest of all the people of the east. Now in my opinion, this is like being a present day millionaire. Job's character is highlighted in the first couple of verses of the Chapter stating that he had great character, being upright and blameless.

Satan questioned Job's character and love for God and thought he had ulterior motives. In 1:9-12, the Lord allows Satan to test Job, even though He had placed a hedge of protection around Job and his household. No harm could come to Job unless the Lord permitted it. Believers today should take great comfort in knowing that God protects His people. God's sovereign control also limits the powers and actions of Satan. 1:12 "And the Lord said to Satan, "Behold, all that he has is in your power; only do not lay a hand on his person."

The Sin of cursing God is a pivotal issue in the Book of Job. Job feared that his children would speak irreverently to God. But Satan was certain that if Job's prosperity and blessings were removed that Job would certainly curse God.

Everything was then stripped from Job, his livestock, his servants, and his children. But,
Job did not curse God, he blessed Him. Then Satan attacked his health with painful boils from the bottoms of his feet to the top of his head. His wife then requested that he curse God. I love Job 2:10 "'But he said to her, "You speak as one of the foolish women speaks. Shall we indeed accept good from God , and shall we not accept adversity?'" In all this Job did not sin with his lips."

In Chapter 3, Job curses the day of his birth. 3:23 "Why is light given to a man whose way is hidden, And whom God has hedged in? In the next several chapters, Job's friends are trying to mourn with him or comfort him. Unfortunately they are providing counsel that isn't necessarily wise. Job then speaks about his just complaints and his comfortless suffering.

In Chapter 10, Job begins to speak to God as an equal and ask Him why He is turning against him like a fierce lion? Job is being blind to the fact that God is working good out of all the tragic events in his life.
13:15 "Though He slay me, yet will I trust in Him. Even so, I will defend my own ways before Him." Job wanted to plead his cause directly with God, and then Job would rediscover what he had never really lost: God's love and salvation.

Job's friends assumed that he had wickedness and sin in his heart to have been struck by tragedies and suffering. Human suffering isn't always the sign of God's judgement. In this fallen world, sometimes the innocent suffer. Quite often, we are blinded by the suffering in our lives or in the lives of our loved ones that we don't see the good that God is performing out of these tragedies.

At the end of Job, God brings it! God reminds Job that only One has created the heavens and the earth and everything that exists among them! God allows Job to speak to Him. In 42:6, "Therefore I abhor myself, And repent in dust and ashes." Job recanted his complaints, doubts, and questioning of God.

I LOVE THIS!

Job 42:10 "And the Lord restored Job's losses when he prayed for his friends. Indeed the Lord gave Job twice as much as he had before."

The Lord God Almighty returned his brothers, sisters, prior acquaintances to him who had gone away at the site of his health issues. They ate and drank with him, consoled him at the adversity he had endured. Then the Lord blessed him with 42:12 b.fourteen thousand sheep, six thousand camels, one thousand yoke of oxen, and one thousand female donkeys. 13: He also had seven sons and three daughters. 15: In all the land were found no women so beautiful as the daughters of Job; and their father gave them an inheritance among their brothers.

In summing this up, I want you all to know that there is nothing too great for God to handle or deliver us from. So often we take for granted our loved ones, our material things, our blessings. But, it can all be gone in the blink of an eye. Everything we have is a blessing! There is no affliction in our life that is too great for Him!

Blessing and Love,

Tiffany

Scriptures from the Bible (NKJV). These are my thoughts, and my personal take on the scripture.