If you’re going through a difficult time right now – reading the book of Job might elevate your perspective. Today, three lessons from Job.
If nothing else, Job tells us things could always be worse. But there are great life lessons in the old testament book. Here are three from Jodie Stephens:
Satan is the big loser! God set him up when he showed up looking for someone to devour. “Have you noticed my servant Job? God tells his accuser. “He is the finest man in all the earth. He is blameless – a man of complete integrity. He fears God and stays away from evil.” “…But reach out and take away everything he has,” replies the serpent, “and he will surely curse you to your face” (Job 1:8-11).
God foreknew Job would not curse Him. Are you a servant like that? It’s OK if you fail the test. That’s what is so beautiful about forgiveness.
Second – Job doesn’t know he’s being tested by Satan and neither do his friends. As far as we know, God never does reveal this in their lifetime. Imagine this; when difficulties, heartache, and tragedy come knocking, it’s quite possible things are going down in the heavens we know nothing about, and we may never know on this side of heaven.
And third, things got better for Job. In fact, it says that God blessed him more in the second half of his life than in the first. Almost everything in life is cyclical: sadness and joy; hard times and prosperity; peace and unrest; difficulty and ease.