“I had heard of you by the hearing of the ear,
but now my eye sees you;”
– Job 42:5
At the end of it all, this is what Job came to understand. He’d suffered terribly and unjustly because the devil is real and permitted to test the faithful. It’s unclear whether Job ever understood that part. However, he came to understand and find peace in the person and presence of God and God alone. Not in money, property, or family. In God alone.
For so long, Job had thought that satisfaction and peace would come from questioning God, debating God, and confronting God. That never happened. He demanded answers and precisely 0 of his questions were ever answered by God. Why? Because God knows that answers to our questions don’t bring comfort, peace, or satisfaction amidst suffering (even if we could understand them).
To get Job’s attention, God asked him dozens and dozens of questions that he couldn’t answer. This snapped Job out of his self-centered mindset and opened his eyes to see the infinite majesty and awesome power of His Creator. That’s when Job discovered the secret to peace amidst suffering and injustice… Stop seeking answers humans are unable to comprehend. Seek God instead. God usually won’t give us answers but He’ll gladly give us Himself!
At last, Job not only knew about and respected God, he knew God. He had a relationship with the Almighty. Therein lies the secret to peace in our most unhappy situations. Seek God. Cry out to Him in the name of Jesus. Be reconciled to Him through faith in Jesus. Be embraced and adopted as His beloved child by grace through faith in Jesus. Then embrace the privileges that come with that adoption! Embrace your freedom to speak with God any time, day and know. To talk to Him and listen to Him. Trust that He loves you and wants what’s best for you. Rest in His sovereignty, His power, His goodness, His wisdom, His mercy, His grace, and His love. Stop approaching God like a prosecuting attorney and approach Him as the son or daughter you truly are in Jesus Christ. #FollowJesus