Perseverance and Patience
Shall we receive good from God, and shall we not receive evil?” In all this Job did not sin with his lips.
Job 2:10
The book of Job is a great example of trusting God even when you don’t understand his way and how to live with perseverance and patience as Job did. Job was covered with painful sores from head to foot. So Satan went out from the presence of the Lord and afflicted Job with painful sores from the soles of his feet to the crown of his head. (Job 2:7) Job was not only in physical pain he had lost is his sons, his daughters, his sheep, and his camels. Job had lost everything.
All this tragic news came to Job in rapid sequence, one event immediately after the previous event. Tragic events in this short time are beyond our ability to cope, yet how did Job react? Then Job arose, tore his robe, and shaved his head; and he fell to the ground and worshiped. And he said: “Naked I came from my mother’s womb, And naked shall I return there. The Lord gave, and the Lord has taken away; Blessed be the name of the Lord.” (Job 1:20-21) I cannot imagine the tragedies that Job had but Job went to God. When tragedy occurs, we go to God.
Job persevered through his misery as he listened to negative advice from his friends and his wife. His wife said to him, “Are you still maintaining your integrity? Curse God and die!” (Job 2:9) When life is difficult, it is important to seek Godly counsel and not to listen to bad advice from people of the world that are non-believers. After the Lord had spoken these words to Job, the Lord said to Eliphaz the Temanite: “My anger burns against you and against your two friends, for you have not spoken of me what is right, as my servant Job has. (Job 42:7) God was angry at Job’s friends for the bad advice, but was pleased with Job’s attitude.
Job persevered through extreme difficulties and could not have survived without patience. He never understood why this all happened, he lost everything, and he was hurting physically. But his faith enabled him to persevere with patience and God rewarded him. After Job had prayed for his friends, the Lord restored his fortunes and gave him twice as much as he had before. (Job 42:10)
If we persevere with patience, praising, and thanking the Lord for helping us through, we will receive blessings from God that far outweigh our tragedy. We are eternally minded, we know Heaven is our home, and we know the Lord is with us. We can endure anything because we have overcome the world. Everyone born of God overcomes the world. This is the victory that has overcome the world, even our faith. (1 John 5:4) So hang on to your faith and know Heaven is home..
Today, remember the story of Job, how he persevered with patience and how God rewarded him. Praise and thank the Lord and he will be pleased with your faith. Know God is sovereign and he takes care of those in his family.
Prayer: Lord, give the perseverance and patience needed in this fallen world and especially at this time. May I always offer praise and thankfulness to you not matter what happens in life. In Jesus’ name, Amen