Why are you downcast, O my soul? Why so disturbed within me? Put your hope in God, for I will yet praise Him, my Savior and my God. – Psalm 42:11
The take away from “Questions During Dark Times” is that the mind may get tired, the body weak, confidence may be shaken, or patience strained but we can maintain hope in our struggles because God has provided light for dark times.
Job had been a wealthy man when tragedy struck but he responded well to the first test when he lost his children, his livestock, and his property. The second test was painful sores from the soles of his feet to the crown of his head (Job 3:7).
When going through difficult times, the mind may get tired, the body weak, confidence may be shaken, and patience strained. In Job 3, questions are asked by Job and he was in a dark time. The common element of the questions Job had are about his life. He asked for what reason he was even born?
Success followed immediately by tragedy provokes many questions. Thoughts about what happened, why did it happen, and bitterness may set in. It is during tragedy, that we understand more about those in desperate situations. We can sympathize and when the questions are asked, we have a better answer for them.
A person in the lowest valley needs to hear that God will start to work things out. If Job made it out, there is certainly hope for them. They can get back on track and start again to climb the highest peak again if they maintain hope in their struggles.
Father God, You have provided light for dark times. Today, we examine our hopes and dreams and believe You can take them to a level that we never imagined before. We remember What Jesus went through on the cross. There may be times of struggle, pain, and despair but the morning light will dawn and we can emerge from the darkness into a brighter future. With You, there is sure victory because our ultimate hope is in Jesus. Nothing we ever face will be greater than what Jesus has given with the Holy Spirit. In His name we pray … Amen!
The Lord is my rock, my fortress and my deliverer; my God is my rock, in whom I take refuge, my shield and the horn of my salvation, my stronghold. - Psalm 18:2
Many things in this world are built like a house of cards but during the storms of life, we can count on the promises of God. These promises are built on truth and you can rest assured that the promise will be fulfilled.
To build things right, you want to start with a good foundation. Living the way Jesus teaches is like building on a solid foundation.
In “Maintain Integrity”, we shared that Job goes through a second test but his attitude continued to be that we enter the world with nothing so if wealth is lost, nothing is lost. If health is lost, quality of life while on Earth is lost. But if integrity is lost, we lose everything so we need to hold onto integrity and ask God for support.
Jesus said to build our house on a solid rock. We all face storms in life but in God’s plan, we can keep standing if we do like the song says by Larnelle Harris and Go to the Rock.
Job responded well to the first test when he lost his children, his livestock, and his property. The second test we observe today in reading Job 2 is painful sores from the soles of his feet to the crown of his head (v. 7).
Job said no to anything that would damage his character or compromise his honor. He maintained his integrity and would not curse God (v. 9). His view of God did not change in any way. His attitude was still that we enter the world with nothing so if wealth is lost, nothing is lost. If health is lost, quality of life while on Earth is lost. But if integrity is lost, we lose everything so we need to hold onto integrity and ask God for support.
Job’s wife and his three friends saw the suffering he went through. The strongest sign of the sympathy of Job’s three friends is the time they spend just being with Job. When we are around those that are suffering, our presence and our compassion for them is important so be concerned about their problems and pray with them.
Lord this day we may face trials but we can count on Your promises. These promises are built on truth so today we trust in Jesus during the storms of life. We go to the Rock for our salvation and trust Your plan. Amen.
This Day With God - A Spiritual Journey 
