Job - Hope in Spite of Despair
April 28, 2010
Building Godly Character
When we go through trial of life, as we all do, Job is a great place to find encouragement. Perhaps no other Biblical character endured what he did. He lost his family, his wealth, and his health. In spite of this he never lost the most important thing he possessed, hope in his redeemer.
Job 19:25-27 “But as for me, I know that my Redeemer lives, and he will stand upon the earth at last. 26 And after my body has decayed, yet in my body I will see God! 27 I will see him for myself. Yes, I will see him with my own eyes. I am overwhelmed at the thought!”
Job lived thousands of years before Christ, yet he knew God well enough to know that one day a redeemer would come. In this time and in this culture the idea of an afterlife was crazy. This did not stop Job prophesying that he would see God in his physical body. What a great comfort we have in these words of Job. When your world is falling apart around you; when nothing is going right; when you feel like you are being crushed by the burdens of life, look to Job. Look to his faith. Allow God to turn your despair into hope. Job’s faith kept him until God restored his life, his possessions, and his family. Our God can keep you through the darkest storms of life. For Job to receive this restoration, he had to remain faithful to our God. We must do the same. We cannot expect God to restore our life if we give up in the fight. Our Christian life is a battle. We are constantly fighting for our lives. Don’t let the enemy win. Don’t let your guard down.
Stand and say with Job, “I know that my Redeemer LIVES”.