Job 3: 25
For the thing which I greatly fear comes upon me, and that of which I am afraid befalls me.
The story of Job was a mystery yet worth learning. Many believers have gone through various trials in the past. Others are currently facing their own trials. Many have found themselves in seemingly insurmountable situations. Trials make the life of a believer better. It makes us stronger in The Lord. Anytime we overcome our trials we mature in our walk with The Lord.
Job 1:1 THERE WAS a man in the land of Uz whose name was Job; and that man was blameless and upright, and one who [reverently] feared God and abstained from and shunned evil [because it was wrong].
Job, the bible describes him as a man who was blameless, upright, feared God and abstained from evil. He was a man who was highly esteemed by The Lord. He pleased The Lord in all his ways but the truth is that Job had inner struggles just like any other man. Inwardly, Job had his own insecurities. In spite of all the godly attributes he had, he was living in insecurity. Personally I believe Job had an inner feeling that one day he was going to lose all that he had. Job might have seen or heard of a rich man who had lost all his wealth under strange circumstances. Probably he might have been living with this at the back of his mind. I believe he was wondering what he will do if he lost his wealth.
Job1:3 He possessed 7,000 sheep, 3,000 camels, 500 yoke of oxen, 500 female donkeys, and a very great body of servants, so that this man was the greatest of all the men of the East.
Job was extremely rich so he had a reason to be concerned about unforeseen circumstances in his life.
Job 1:13-19.
13And there was a day when [Job's] sons and his daughters were eating and drinking wine in their eldest brother's house [on his birthday],
14And there came a messenger to Job and said, The oxen were plowing and the donkeys feeding beside them,
15And the Sabeans swooped down upon them and took away [the animals]. Indeed, they have slain the servants with the edge of the sword, and I alone have escaped to tell you.
16While he was yet speaking, there came also another and said, The fire of God (lightning) has fallen from the heavens and has burned up the sheep and the servants and consumed them, and I alone have escaped to tell you.
17While he was yet speaking, there came also another and said, The Chaldeans divided into three bands and made a raid upon the camels and have taken them away, yes, and have slain the servants with the edge of the sword, and I alone have escaped to tell you.
18While he was yet speaking, there came also another and said, Your sons and your daughters were eating and drinking wine in their eldest brother's house,
19And behold, there came a great [whirlwind] from the desert, and smote the four corners of the house, and it fell upon the young people and they are dead, and I alone have escaped to tell you.
Job lost all he had in just a short time. All that he acquired was consumed by the devil. He lost his children as well. For a man who served God wholeheartedly his situation was unbelievable. He lost all that he had. He had painful boils in addition to his loss. The woman who was supposed to give him comfort blasphemed against The Lord and abandoned him in his helpless state. Come to think of it, Job's situation was unbearable. He spent the rest of his days lamenting until God visited him. In Job's predicaments he never spoke against God.
Like Job, many Christians including myself have our own fears. Our fears differ though. For many years I lived in fear of losing the people I loved most. I lived in fear of being rejected. I constantly lived in this until The Lord started dealing with me. I always felt miserable any time my loved ones left me. I never wanted to let go easily. It was a weakness but I thank Jesus for healing me. Now I've grown out of weak emotions. The Lord is still dealing with other insecurities in my life. Praise The Lord. I know other believers have their own fears.
Some have the fear of losing their wealth just like Job. Most mothers have built their lives around their children so anytime their children become adults and leave home they become miserable. For some too they've had their trust betrayed by friends, siblings, husbands,wives,fiancees,parents so they are living in fear of being hurt again. Its natural to experience all these as humans .
As believers we live to overcome just like our Lord Jesus. There will be seasons that God will allow us to go through all these trials. When it happens we ask so many questions. God allows us to face our fears for a reason. A true soldier doesn't run away from a battle no matter how strong or crafty the opposing military is. God trains us to be true soldiers. He allows us to go through trials in order to make us better. In my sober moments I thank Him for allowing me to face certain things in life. Sometimes we go to the extent of doubting His love for us. The truth is that in our darkest moments He is with us. His eyes are constantly fixed upon us.
Psalm 34: 19. Many evils confront the [consistently] righteous, but the Lord delivers him out of them all.
John 16: 33.
I have told you these things, so that in Me you may have [perfect] peace and confidence. In the world you have tribulation and trials and distress and frustration; but be of good cheer [take courage; be confident, certain, undaunted]! For I have overcome the world. [I have deprived it of power to harm you and have conquered it for you.]
Being a christian doesn't exempt you from facing such situations. We will definitely face them but The Lord has promised to see us through. How do we deal with such situations? Do we move around spreading our story hoping that others will sympathize with us? Do we complain? The truth is in such situations those who claim they love you will rather turn their backs on you. Others too will be pretenders.
Job 42: 7- 9
7After the Lord had spoken the previous words to Job, the Lord said to Eliphaz the Temanite, My wrath is kindled against you and against your two friends, for you have not spoken of Me the thing that is right, as My servant Job has.
8Now therefore take seven bullocks and seven rams and go to My servant Job and offer up for yourselves a burnt offering; and My servant Job shall pray for you, for I will accept [his prayer] that I deal not with you after your folly, in that you have not spoken of Me the thing that is right, as My servant Job has.
9So Eliphaz the Temanite and Bildad the Shuhite and Zophar the Naamathite went and did as the Lord commanded them; and the Lord accepted [Job's prayer].
Job's friends accused him to be the cause of his problem. In situations of this nature we are likely to hear demoralizing statements. God allows all this to happen to us so that we will not put our confidence in any man but Him alone. Its up to us to make a choice to fully surrender to The Lord and allow Him to have His way in our lives. We can trust God and surrender our fears to Him. It may not be easy initially but He is able to give us the grace to submit. As we submit to Him the insecurities begin to recede and His peace fills our hearts.
Isaiah 26: 3.
You will guard him and keep him in perfect and constant peace whose mind [both its inclination and its character] is stayed on You, because he commits himself to You, leans on You, and hopes confidently in You.
1Peter 5: 7.
Casting the [a]whole of your care [all your anxieties, all your worries, all your concerns, [b]once and for all] on Him, for He cares for you affectionately and cares about you [c]watchfully.
The Lord wants us to learn to submit to Him. May The Lord fill us with the Holy Spirit. May He teach us to give all our fears to Him. May every fear in our hearts be consumed by the fire of The Holy Spirit. Fear must leave for faith to flourish.
Glory To Jesus
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