“Have you considered My servant Job, that there is none like him on the earth, a blameless and upright man, one who fears God and shuns evil?” Job 1:8

Consider Job

Job has been a life-changing book for me. God spoke to me out of this book as surely as He spoke to Job out of the whirlwind. I felt at the time as though I deserved a certain thing, that I had “earned” it, and that God had let me down, even betrayed me. It was all about me and my earthly perceptions. And, like Job, I got a glimpse of who I was, shaking my angry little fist at Him. He silenced me. His utter sovereignty and eternal majesty overwhelmed my ragged soul.

Job was a man who lived what he believed. He feared God and because he feared God, he shunned evil. He didn’t “deserve” the tragedy that overwhelmed him and changed everything.

On the other hand, there was an adversary. He was an accuser. He is even now out to prove God wrong. He is set on destroying relationship between God and man. His charge against Job was that Job had ulterior motives for serving God.

So the question arises: do I serve God for what I can get out of Him?

Do I serve God expecting my own way to be accomplished?

Or do I serve God for who He is, sovereign and trustworthy?

Is God enough?

Does God satisfy even when things have seemingly gone against me?

Can I embrace and accept God’s will, whatever the circumstance?

Will I submit my preferences, opinions, desires and dreams to His overarching purposes?

Is God still God?

I now know most assuredly that I need God more than I need food when I am hungry, air to breathe, or money in the bank. I am indeed blessed and made rich by His hand, but it is all meaningless if I don’t have God Himself. I was created to love and worship God and apart from Him I am destitute and hollow.

I have observed saints who have endured (or are enduring) great suffering. They hold fast to God. The situation is ugly, painful, and confusing, but they do not let go of faith in their Beloved. God is never more real than when He is present in the midnight blackness, the unrelenting pain, and the gnawing doubt. You never know Jesus is all you need until Jesus is all you have. He is enough. Ask Job. “Blessed be the name of the Lord” (Job 1:21).

Father, thank You for Your great mercies. You have revealed grace and truth in Jesus Christ and we cling to You. We know that our Redeemer lives and will stand at last upon the earth. Whatever may come for good or evil, You remain unchanged and ever faithful to Your covenant promises. You are all sufficient. You are more than enough. In the name of Jesus, Amen.