I Have Kept To His Way Without Turning Aside

Then Job replied:

“Even today my complaint is bitter; his hand is heavy in spite of my groaning. If only I knew where to find him; if only I could go to his dwelling! I would state my case before his and fill my mouth with arguments. I would find out what he would answer me, and consider what he would say to me. Would he vigorously oppose me? No, he would not press charges against me. There the upright can establish their innocence before him, and there I would be delivered forever from my judge.

“But if I go to the east, he is not there; if I go to the west, I do not find him. When he is at work in the north, I do not see him; when he turns to the south, I catch no glimpse of him. But he knows the way that I take; when he has tested me, I will come forth as gold. My feet have closely followed his steps; I have kept to his way without turning aside. I have not departed from the commands of his lips; I have treasured the words of his mouth more than my daily bread.

Job 23:1-12

Job was overwhelmed after losing his livelihood, his health, and his family. Worse still, Job was a daily worshipper of God, he felt that the Lord was ignoring his pleas for help. God seemed absent from the landscape of his life. Job claimed he could not see God whether he looked to the north, south, east or west.

In the middle of his despair, Job had a moment of clarity. His faith flickered to life like a candle in a dark room. He said, “(God) knows the way that I take; when He has tested me, I will come forth as gold.” Christians are tried and purified when God uses difficulty to burn away our self-reliance, pride, and earthy wisdom. If it seems as if God is silent during this process and He is not answering our cries for help, He may be giving us an opportunity to grow stronger in our faith.

Pain and problems can produce the shining, rock-solid character that comes from trusting God when life is hard.

Faith-testing times can be faith-strengthening times.

Our Daily Bread – February 6, 2017