In and Through Trials, God's Grace
Thou hast granted me life and steadfast love. (Job 10:12)
Job 16:19-21 and 19:21-25; Jer. 29:11-12; John 14:17-19; Rom. 3:22-26; I Tim. 1:12-15
What Is God Saying?
The counselor-friends of Job had a knack for pouring fuel on the fires of his trials. They were skilled in the art of saying the wrong things at the right time, and the right things at the wrong time. When Job needed understanding, sympathy, and compassion his friends felt obliged to tell him his troubles were proof that God was not pleased with him, ‘The Judgment that was on him and ahead of him was what he deserved,’ so ran the monotonous, cruel arguments of Job's accusers. They were only belaboring thoughts Job himself had and could not dismiss.
When Job had a chance to speak, he agreed with his friends. His trials might be traced to the fact that he was not good enough for God to love him. Then came a ray of sunlight. Job saw it through his tears, through the vacuous, uncaring counsel of his friends, and said, ‘Thou hast granted me life and steadfast love.’ Even though it now seemed to be gone, God had given it. Job never lost his faith in a loving God. Some said Job was doomed and deserved it, but Job was in touch with grace which was God saying, here is love even though you don't deserve it.
How Does This Apply To Us?
How wonderful is the Gospel. Job, so far back in history, came very near to the good news of Christian truth. In Job 19:25, despite his trials and pain, he said, ‘I know that my Redeemer lives.’ For Job, the ray of light, the discovery of help, and the deeper lessons of suffering came in the knowledge that he had a living Redeemer, God's unspeakable Gift, amazing grace.
Judgment and doom and suffering are not the final words—amazing grace is. This is where the rubber meets the road. We don't deserve salvation and joy and peace but God gives it all to us through faith in the Living Redeemer. Jesus said (John 14:19), ‘Because I live, you shall live also.’ Truly God has granted us life and steadfast love. Job said it long ago. We can claim it right now.
Pray With Me
Lord, I will remember that life itself is Your gift. But there is more—all other gifts that make the gift of life rich and meaningful, these, too, are Your gifts. When, in the weariness of hope long deferred, I am tempted to complain, I would think of Your servant Job. Despite all that argues to the contrary, I would share with him the conviction that God is still able and still cares. If life were Your only gift (even should it seem to be an unrelenting, uphill struggle), we should still give thanks. But, with life, with the ability to see, to feel, to suffer and to persevere, You also give Your steadfast love. Your steadfast love changes exhausting despair into exhilarating hope. Your steadfast love transforms a lonely vigil into a time of loving companionship. Your steadfast love touches pointless pain until it glows with purpose. Your steadfast love whispers in a voice mightier than the tempest, Take heart, it is I; have no fear.
For life itself, I thank You, Lord, For all the sweet and the bitter; the high and the low; the light and the dark; for paths that are pleasant, surrounded by beauty and shining with Your peace; and for paths that are rugged and steep, a challenge to honor and a discipline of faith. Lord, for life in all its endless variety, I thank You. Above all, I thank You for that which makes all pleasure wholesome and all struggling worthwhile.
I thank You for Your steadfast love in Christ Jesus. Amen.
Moving On In The Life of Prayer
Despite the problems of the moment (or what may seem like endless moments), however hopeless our situation may appear to be, God is still in control. God still has a plan for good for us. In prayer we find this truth, in life, we live by this truth. No one has ever said it better than in Jeremiah 29:11-12. Read his words, believe them, heed them, and cherish them. They are in the Bible for a reason. They are in the Bible for you and me.
