I was angry at God the other day, (but I have since repented, lol). I was bent out of shape because I had to move again for the 4th time in the last 18 months. Now, these moves have not been the kind of moves that are filled with happiness and excitement, but rather they are filled with snappy attitudes, weariness, broken dreams and disappointment. (And by the way, I am not married to a man who is in the military and we are not missionaries. We are just your ordinary family trying to get by in this fallen world.)
As I stood in the kitchen of our rental home unpacking pots and pans again, I soon became disheartened and my heart sank and my flesh gave way. Trials. Tribulations. Long-suffering. Heartache. (Ughh!)
How much longer, Lord?
How much more will You take my children, my husband and myself through?
Will You uproot us from this place as well?
All those questions ran through my mind and the little seeds of anger and self-entitlement started to sprout in my wicked heart that morning.
Did you happen to notice how I was cleverly questioning what the Lord was doing in my life?
Interestingly enough, just two days earlier I sat for a few moments to write a new post on marriage, (well that didn't happen) because the Lord felt it fit for me to learn a few more things about Him, Job and his sufferings, along with Satan and what God would allow him to do. As I studied the scriptures, I had a hard time swallowing what the Lord had to say to Satan in regards to Job’s life, (and mine as well).
Picture this scene in your mind’s eye for just a moment.
God is seated on His throne in heaven and angels come to present themselves before the Lord, along with Satan. (Job 1:6) The Almighty God asks Satan where he is coming from and Satan replies, “From to and fro on the earth and from walking back and forth on it.
Can you see that scene, dear sister? Satan is roaming the earth, seeking whom he may devour. Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil walks about like a roaring lion, seeking whom he may devour. 1 Peter 5:8
Now here’s come the part of the story that was painful to read because it is just a matter of time before that same statement will apply to either you or me!
As Satan tells the Lord that he has been walking back and forth on the earth, the Lord says to him, “Have you considered My servant Job, that there is none like him on earth, a blameless and upright man, one who fears God and shuns evil?” Job 1:8
Think about that statement for just a moment and let it sink into your brain. Now, take a look at your trials and apply the above verse to you.
“Have you considered my servant (insert your name).”
Whatever is going on in your life, God is ALLOWING it to take place!
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| The Lord sifts our trials through His hands before we receive them. |
The conversation between the Lord and Satan continues on in Chapter 1 of Job. Satan basically tells the Lord that the reason why Job is a man who fears God is because the Lord has blessed the work of Job’s hands by providing him with many riches. Satan further says that the Lord has protected Job by putting up a hedge around him and all his household. In other words, Satan basically said, Of course Job is righteous and fears You God, because you have abundantly blessed him! Snicker, snicker, with a hint of sarcasm.
Satan continues to say to the Lord, “But now, stretch out Your hand and touch all that he has, and he will surely curse You to Your face!”
Here’s the Lord’s response. “Behold, all that he has is in your power; only do not lay a hand on his person.” Job 1:12 (later in the story, God allowed Satan to bring devastation to Job's body as well.)
Let me show you something in this verse: God knew the heart of Job and He knew that Job could go through his trials and thus, God allowed Satan to harm Job. The Lord knew Job better than Satan did.
The Lord knows our hearts and minds as well and He knows us better than the enemy. He knows that you and I can go through the trials that He has already sifted through His hands.
Here's 5 Things to Know About the Enemy (in case you were wondering!)
1. Satan is accountable to God. (Job 1:6)
2. Satan is a created being, he is finite. He is not all-powerful and he can only be in one place at a time. (Job 1:7) Although he does have his demonic minions running around trying to trip us up.
3. Satan can tempt us, but he cannot know what we are thinking nor can he foretell our future. (Job 1:9-11)
4. SATAN CAN DO NOTHING TO US WITHOUT THE LORD’S PERMISSION! (Job 1:6-12) Love this!!!
5. God actively restrains Satan. (Job 1:12; 2:6)
We can be confident that with God’s power we can overcome Satan.
Satan does not have free reign to do whatever evil he wishes. God is still, and will always be, sovereign.
Yes, God ALLOWED Satan to test Job for a time. But God also delivered Job from suffering, he restored him and blessed him even more.
As Job endured much, he asked the Lord the 'why' question? Yet, God never gave Job the answer, instead God asked Job many questions.
God may never give you or I the answer to our 'why' as well, but here is something for you to think about:
The scriptures say that as Believers we are to be set apart for God’s holy purpose. Did it ever occur to you that the purpose God had in mind for your life was to go through trials faithfully and obediently the way Job did? “Behold, we consider those blessed who remained steadfast. You have heard of the steadfastness of Job, and you have seen the purpose of the Lord, how the Lord is compassionate and merciful.” James 5:11
In the end, Job responded to the Lord, "Behold, I am vile; What shall I answer You? I lay my hand over my mouth." Job 40:4 (You can add vile to the list next to my wicked heart as well.)
Although our lives may be filled with pain, there is a purpose for it and we never need to question God, because He is sovereign.
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