God is Ever Present…and He Cares

At the end of Job’s trying time of the loss of his flocks, herds, labor, servants, and children, and the horrific attack on his body, the Lord restored all Job had lost. The Lord restored Job’s fortunes and gave him twice as much as he had before. He restored double the flocks and herds and gave him 10 more children and allowed him to live long enough to see his children and their children to the fourth generation! Amazing restoration. It is even speculated that Job was 70 at the onset of this time of trial and we see that the Lord allowed him to live to the age of 140. Another doubling of His blessing?!?!?
But right before the account of the restoration, we get to read an account of  the conversation the Lord and Job are having. The following verses are seen in the midst of God being very clear about who He is and how intimately involved He is in the lives of His creation: “Who then is able to stand against me? Who has a claim against me that I must pay? Everything under heaven belongs to me.” (Job 41:10b&11)  Job’s “friends” were not men of wisdom. They were advising Job wrongly about the work of the Lord. The Lord rebuked them, saying to Eliphaz, “I am angry with you and your two friends, because you have not spoken the truth about me, as my servant Job has.” (Job 42:7b) Although Job was struggling, he did not believe he was enduring punishment for sin or God’s abandonment. This is the same for us today.

Please hear me, we need to repent for sin – confess it, turn our backs on it, and never return to it. But I don’t want us to erroneously believe that every time difficulties come, we are hopeless and abandoned. Jesus assured us that in this world we will have troubles but that we can rejoice because the Savior of our souls has overcome this world! (John 16:33) Further, we know that the Lord knows us intimately (Psalm 139:1-18), loves us dearly (John 3:16, John 15:13), and has great plans for our lives (Jeremiah 29:11). The trouble that the believer endures is not because the Lord has removed His covering from our lives, but because there is a purpose in the trouble. And the trouble that He allows (as he did in Job’s life) will be for our good and His glory…and quite possibly for the good of many others!

Be encouraged, our Father God is always with us…especially in the midst of the storm. No plan that any enemy has against us can override the wonderful plans God has for our lives.

Psalm 33:10&11 - The Lord foils the plans of the nations; he thwarts the purposes of the peoples. But the plans of the Lord stand firm forever, the purposes of his heart through all generations.

Proverbs 16:4 - The Lord works out everything to its proper end—even the wicked for a day of disaster.

Proverbs 19:21 - Many are the plans in a person’s heart, but it is the Lord’s purpose that prevails.

Proverbs 21:30 - There is no wisdom, no insight, no plan that can succeed against the Lord.