A Key to Strengthen Your Faith
The safest place to hide during life’s storms is in God Himself.
“The name of the Lord is a strong tower; the righteous man runs into it and is safe” (Prov. 18:10, ESV).
“My God is my rock, in whom I find protection. He is my shield, the power that saves me, and my place of safety. He is my refuge, my savior, the one who saves me from violence.” 2 Samuel 22:3 (NLT).
Some valuable lessons about handling negative experiences and emotions can be learned from a man named Job in the Bible. After he had lost almost everyone dear to him and everything he owned including his health, he leaves us an unsurpassable lesson on what giving God ultimate love looks like and how to handle unimaginable distress. See Job 1:1–2, & Job 1:13–19. But even though Job had to go through some fiercely intense negative emotions, he only gave full vent to his frustrations in God’s presence: worship.
Then Job stood up, tore his robe, and shaved his head. He fell to the ground and worshiped, saying: “Naked I came from my mother’s womb, and naked I will return. The LORD gave, and the LORD has taken away. Blessed be the name of the LORD.” In all this, Job did not sin or charge God with wrongdoing. (Job 1:20–22, (Berean Study Bible).
After suffering the most crushing losses, and Job’s wife, whom he had loved dearly for so many years told him to just curse God and die! And if all that were not enough to destroy a person’s soul, his closest friends, whom he had been with for many years gathered around and instead of comforting Job, made false accusations against him. The destruction of everything that Job possessed, compounded by the loss of his seven children all happening to him within one single day, and the many dark days of satanic assaults that followed, would seem like more than enough reasons for anyone to stop believing in God.
But what we’re about to witness is the outstanding response of a true worshipper of God to life’s worst circumstances. I don’t know of anyone that has ever gone through what this dear man did and pray that no one else ever will. But as Job confronted these enormous challenges and unquantifiable sufferings, he just did not let go of his faith in God.Instead, he kept the lines of communication between himself and God completely open. And by so doing was able to withstand the relentless attacks in the safest place of all: God’s presence.
It’s impossible for us to fully comprehend the depth of agony that Job went through, but his grief was palpable through his darkest emotional statements to God. Job’s feelings ranged from rage to despair, grief to anger, and unimaginable levels of depression. But he made them all known to God.
My spirit is broken, my days are cut short,
The grave awaits me. Surely mockers surround me;
My eyes must dwell on their hostility.
God has made me a byword to everyone,
A man in whose face people spit.
My eyes have grown dim with grief;
My whole frame is but a shadow.
The upright are appalled at this;
The innocent are aroused against the ungodly.
“Nevertheless, the righteous will hold to their ways,
And those with clean hands will grow stronger” (Job 17:1–9, NIV).
After his ordeal was over, God completely reversed Job’s fortunes and blessed him with double what he had before.
So the Lord blessed Job in the second half of his life even more than in the beginning. For now he had 14,000 sheep, 6,000 camels, 1,000 teams of oxen, and 1,000 female donkeys. He also gave Job seven more sons and three more daughters …. In all the land no women were as lovely as the daughters of Job. And their father put them into his will along with their brothers. Job lived 140 years after that, living to see four generations of his children and grandchildren (Job 42:12–13, 15–16, NLT).
Here is my prayer:
“Instead of your shame you will receive a double portion, and instead of disgrace you will rejoice in your inheritance. And so you will inherit a double portion in your land, and everlasting joy will be yours” (Isa. 61:7, NIV). Amen!
Job’s love for God serves as one of the greatest examples of ultimate trust in God when life throws you a boulder. I implore you to also:
“Cast your burden on the Lord, and he will sustain you; he will never permit the righteous to be moved.” (Ps 55:22, ESV).
Because:
“Unfailing love surrounds those who trust the Lord. So rejoice in the Lord and be glad, all you who obey him! Shout for joy, all you whose hearts are pure! (Ps. 32:10–11, NLT).
Please remain strong. By the grace of God we shall surely prevail.
Will you place your full trust in God no matter what, giving Him your over-the-top mega love in worshipful submission, and receive His double rewards?
A modified excerpt from “Giving God Ultimate Love: Over-the-Top Mega Love.” Click here to learn more about this title.
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The NYC BIG BOOK AWARD recognized Giving God Ultimate Love: Over-The-Top Mega Love by Bukky Agboola in the category of Spiritual as a winner. The competition is judged by experts from different aspects of the book industry, including publishers, writers, editors, book cover designers and professional copywriters. Selected award winners and distinguished favorites are based … Continue reading AUTHOR BUKKY AGBOOLA receives national recognition through the NEW YORK CITY BIG BOOK AWARD®!
