Day 119 – Job: Three friends, three rounds

“In the past you have encouraged many people; you have strengthened those who were weak. Your words have supported those who were falling; you encouraged those with shaky knees. But now when trouble strikes, you lose heart. You are terrified when it touches you. Doesn’t your reverence for God give you confidence? Doesn’t your life of integrity give you hope?” Job 4:3-6 NLT

Reading Job 3:1 to Job 31:40

Job’s friends wrongly assumed that suffering always results from sin. With this in mind, they tried to persuade Job to repent for his sins. What they did not understand is that suffering is not always a direct result of personal sin. It is good to listen to the advice of friends, but they do not know your life the way God does – listen with discernment. When we experience severe suffering, it may not be our fault, so we don’t have to add to our pain by feeling guilty about a hidden sin causing trouble.

God alone knew the purpose behind Job’s suffering, yet He never explained it to Job. In spite of this, Job never gave up on God. He never placed his hope in his experiences, his wisdom, his friends, or his wealth. Job focused on God. He demonstrated the kind of trust we should have in difficult situations. When everything is stripped away, we should recognise that God is all we ever really had and need.

God gives us Himself when we truly seek Him, but not all the details of His plan. This life, with all it holds, is not our final destination, and we should keep our focus on our eternal God and trust His plan for our lives, suffering and all.

Prayer: Father, thank You for showing us how to listen to others with discernment and to value Your final say above all else. Though we may suffer, help us understand that in our suffering, we can glorify You. Amen.