Lessons Learned from The Book of Job by Janet Cassidy

I turned to the Book of Job the other day when I was feeling frustrated and unmotivated.  Centered around the last few chapters, I fell in love with the questions that reminded me of my place in the universe. This was very comforting as I began to reflect on all that God does, and has done, and where I fit in.

For instance, the Lord asks Job (38:37, 40:9 respectively):  Who tilts the water jars of heaven so that the dust of earth is fused into a mass and its clods made solid? Or, my personal favorite—"Have you an arm like that of God, or can you thunder with a voice like his?"

Uh, no, not really. Neither do I have anything to do with giving the horse his strength or endowing his neck with splendor (39:19)!

Finally, Job replies to the Lord and acknowledges the power of God (42:2-3):  "I know that you can do all things, and that no purpose of yours can be hindered.  I have dealt with great things that I do not understand; things too wonderful for me, which I cannot know."

Oh that we would take these words to heart!  God can do all things and we do indeed have to face things we do not understand.

In the end, we learn that the Lord restored everything to Job.  He was prosperous and he celebrated with his friends.  His days were blessed and he lived to a ripe old age, enjoying his children, grandchildren and even great-grandchildren.  The last line of the books says, "Then Job died, old and full of years."

For all the suffering and ridicule Job experienced in his lifetime, we are lifted up by the good news that he is restored.  It gives the rest of us hope whenever we have days that must simply be endured, people whom we can just barely tolerate, or trials that seem overwhelming.

For some people, the internal battles and worldly battles must be faced every day.  Someone just said to me the other day, "I’m done.  I’ve had my trials.  It’s time for things to get better."  Sometimes, like Job, we just want to be restored.

And that’s the hope we can glean from the Book of Job.  Hang in there.  No matter how bad it might get, the Lord is with us.  The Lord walks alongside us and never abandons us.  Even in the worst trials of life. He may be silent for awhile and we may have to face things we do not understand, but that does not mean the Lord is absent.

Hold fast to the fact that "God can do all things."  This is a lifeline from our God who loves us beyond understanding.


Copyright 2010 Janet Cassidy