Job is one man who learned from God how to navigate through life when everything he knew was falling apart.
When you read through the first chapters of the book of Job, you will find that God allowed Satan to wreak havoc in Job’s life. All his children died, simultaneously, his wealth, his health and standing in his community were wiped away. His wife even “encouraged” him in Job 2:9 with these words: “Do you still cling to your integrity [and your faith and trust in God, without blaming Him]? Curse God and die!” [Amplified Version].
We cannot forget Job’s “friends”!! They had lost sight of God’s mercy and grace to them, and their words were judgmental and accusatory.
Job was a man who endured most of our worst nightmares!
BUT GOD!
God was not finished writing Job’s story.
God had more to teach Job about Himself.
God has a lot more to teach us about who He is!
How open are you to learning from God through the struggles of this life?
In Job 13:15a Job declared: “God might kill me, but I have no other hope.” In the midst of the chaos of his life, Job understood that God was his only hope. In the midst of our chaos, do we understand this truth? This is key to our existence.
God is our only hope!
It is essential that we understand that Jesus is the Author and Finisher of our faith. Hebrews 12:2 states this truth: “…looking unto Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith, who for the joy that was set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.”
God, through His one and only Son, Jesus Christ, gives us the hope of eternal life, and a destiny that will be endless bliss. It is the life we dream of, but we often fail to recognize that only God can fulfill this dream.
What was God looking for from Job?
God wanted Job to understand that He is the Sovereign God. He knows all, and our lives are best lived seeking Him.
God allowed Job to express himself, to state his perspective. In Job 13:15b Job stated: “yet I will argue my ways to his face.” Through the discourses that followed, Job gave his thoughts on the events of his life.
Then God took Job through a series of questions [Job 38-41] regarding creation. His point was for Job to come to the conclusion that God has life under control, even though it definitely didn’t “appear” to Job that way. God’s questions led Job, and should lead us, to the conclusion that He is in control, and we do not have the right to ask God to justify His actions. God is ok with us expressing ourselves, but we must do so with reverence.
Who do we think we are?
Who do we think God is?
How we answer those questions will influence how we navigate life.
In Job 42:1-6, Job voices his conclusion: “Then Job answered the LORD and said, “I know that You can do all things, And that no purpose of Yours can be thwarted. ‘Who is this that hides counsel without knowledge?’ “Therefore I have declared that which I did not understand, Things too wonderful for me, which I did not know.” ‘Hear, now, and I will speak; I will ask You, and You instruct me.’ “I have heard of You by the hearing of the ear; But now my eye sees You; Therefore I retract, And I repent in dust and ashes.”
God gave Job sufficient evidence to understand who He is. He came to the only conclusion that makes sense – God is the awesome God, and we need to walk humbly with Him.
I recommend you read Job 38-41. I pray that you will also come to the only conclusion that makes sense, and that you and I will humble ourselves before our amazing, loving, merciful, and gracious God, and like Job, repent of our sins.
How often might it appear that life is out of control? The truth is, God has everything under His control. The deeper we lean into that truth, the more fear will flee, and faith will rise up to carry us through our struggles.
We need to diligently work toward the goal of leaning away from trusting ourselves, so we can more completely lean into Jesus.
Abide is the word used in John 15. The more we trust and abide in Jesus, the greater we will experience peace and rest — no matter the situation. God wants to envelope our lives with his miraculous blessings.
On Christmas Eve we were having family and friends for lunch. I hadn’t planned dessert – I forgot. I decided to not fuss about it. But God had dessert planned! Our neighbor sent over some amazing cookies!! This is minor in the scheme of life, but God revealed His love for me in that provision. Since He cares about a dessert, I know He cares about the matters that appear far more overwhelming. I want to be like the Psalmist who states in Psalm 112:7: “They will have no fear of bad news; their hearts are steadfast, trusting in the LORD.”
Our amazing God draws the unworthy to Himself. We are all unworthy. We are drawn by God into a living and personal relationship with Him through Jesus.
I came across this quote: “Mature faith does not live by answers to prayer, but by prayer.”
R. E. O. White.
We cannot save ourselves. Jesus had to come to be a sinless person to go to the cross. Through Him our sin debt is paid in full. Since he has that mighty power, why do we not trust and rely upon Him for all our needs?
What is God wanting to teach you today about Himself?
PS – God restored Job: “The Lord restored the fortunes of Job when he prayed for his friends, and the Lord gave Job twice as much as he had before. Then all his brothers and sisters and all who had known him before came to him, and they ate bread with him in his house; and they consoled him and comforted him over all the [distressing] adversities that the Lord had brought on him. And each one gave him a piece of money, and each a ring of gold. And the Lord blessed the latter days of Job more than his beginning; for he had 14,000 sheep, 6,000 camels, 1,000 yoke of oxen, and 1,000 female donkeys. He had seven sons and three daughters. And he called the name of the first [daughter] Jemimah, and the name of the second Keziah, and the name of the third Keren-happuch. In all the land there were found no women so fair as the daughters of Job; and their father gave them an inheritance among their brothers. After this, Job lived 140 years, and saw his sons and his grandsons, four generations. So Job died, an old man and full of days.” Job 42:10-17
You can reach me at: ButGodCares@gmail.com. Let’s talk about Jesus!
Living for Jesus, Donna
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Note: If the verses for Bible references do not appear when you hover over them, go directly to the website, and they should appear for you. Also, please remember to look at the full context of the verses by reading the complete passage.
Copyright 2026 Donna Shappy All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form or by any means – electronic, mechanical, photocopy, recording, or any other – without the prior permission of the author.