Have you ever felt that everything and everyone is against you? Sometimes I get the feeling the whole world is against me too. However, deep down I know that’s not true.  Some of the smaller countries are neutral. (Ha, Ha!) One of the things I really love about Job is that whatever defeatist thinking you and I have entertained he also entertained.  He is just like us! He exclaimed of God, “He has kindled his wrath against me and counts me as his adversary.”

What Job was going to learn through his incredible suffering is that when God allows suffering in our lives, it will always work out for good. “All things,” Paul writes, “work together for good” in the lives of those who will trust God. He will never let the suffering surpass our strength. 1 Corinthians 10:13 says, “None of the trials which have come upon you is more than a human being can stand. You can trust that God will not let you be put to the test beyond your strength, but with any trial will also provide a way out by enabling you to put up with it.” Thus, God’s intent in our suffering is always to bring about something good.

There is an enemy who is called our “adversary.” The Hebrew word for Satan is literally translated as “adversary.” He means to harm us! He means to destroy our love and confidence in the goodness of God.  His greatest tool to accomplish his ill will in our lives is suffering of all kinds. That’s why he chose to bring suffering on Job. He meant it all for evil.

Never forget the words of Joseph when he confronted his brothers who plotted his murder and sold him into slavery. He said to them, “You meant evil against me, but God meant it for good” (Genesis 50:20)

Chuck

“What I always feared has happened to me. What I dreaded has come true.  I have no peace, no quietness. I have no rest; only trouble comes.” (Job 3:25-26)