Accept the Challenge, or Give in?

Job 1:1-12 (NASB)

1 There was a man in the land of Uz whose name was Job; and that man was blameless, upright, fearing God and turning away from evil. ² Seven sons and three daughters were born to him. ³ His possessions also were 7,000 sheep, 3,000 camels, 500 yoke of oxen, 500 female donkeys, and very many servants; and that man was the greatest of all the men of the east. ⁴ His sons used to go and hold a feast in the house of each one on his day, and they would send and invite their three sisters to eat and drink with them. ⁵ When the days of feasting had completed their cycle, Job would send and consecrate them, rising up early in the morning and offering burnt offerings according to the number of them all; for Job said, “Perhaps my sons have sinned and cursed God in their hearts.” Thus Job did continually.

⁶ Now there was a day when the sons of God came to present themselves before the Lord, and Satan also came among them. ⁷ The Lord said to Satan, “From where do you come?” Then Satan answered the Lord and said, “From roaming about on the earth and walking around on it.” ⁸ The Lord said to Satan, “Have you considered My servant Job? For there is no one like him on the earth, a blameless and upright man, fearing God and turning away from evil.” ⁹ Then Satan answered the Lord, “Does Job fear God for nothing? ¹⁰ Have You not made a hedge about him and his house and all that he has, on every side? You have blessed the work of his hands, and his possessions have increased in the land. ¹¹ But put forth Your hand now and touch all that he has; he will surely curse You to Your face.” ¹² Then the Lord said to Satan, “Behold, all that he has is in your power, only do not put forth your hand on him.” So Satan departed from the presence of the Lord.

The fallen angel, Satan, wants failure for humanity. He wants us to become depraved of mind, body and soul, and he especially wants us to turn our backs on God, our Creator. Satan is the embodiment of evil, and he is the one that inflicts the terrible things that happen to us. He wants to undermine our faith, and cause us to stumble or turn away from God’s love and grace.

God doesn’t want us to fail, nor does He make bad things happen to us. He allows Satan to play his role, which in turn allows our faith in God the Father to grow or to crumble.

            

Do you find it challenging to have unwavering faith in God when you are faced with a difficult time? Or is it more difficult when everything is going well? Rather, do you kind of ‘forget’ about God and His role in your life when things are going well?  

God desires a relationship with us, through good times and bad. I think that is shown by His obvious Fatherly pride in Job. He is so proud, kind of like a father whose son ran into the end-zone during the last seconds of the game to win for the home team. The Lord said to Satan, “Have you considered My servant Job? For there is no one like him on the earth, a blameless and upright man, fearing God and turning away from evil.”

Kind of makes you wonder what He says about you, huh? There are SO many days that I just know He is disappointed in me... for the decisions I have made or my reaction to something going on or the words that came out of my mouth. I am so thankful He still loves me, even when I screw something up.

God still loved Job, even when his faith was wavering after the terrible loss of his family, his riches and his health. He knew he did not sin to bring on the calamities, and he believed God was not punishing him.

Perseverance brings reward.