Secure In Our Suffering

January 5th Reading: Job 1-2

Job is synonymous with suffering. For forty -two chapters we read about a man who experiences extreme physical suffering and immense criticism and critiques from from his “friends.” The reader has an advantage over Job because we have been given a view into the heavenly scene in chapters 1 and 2, which Job is completely unaware.

Job is blameless, upright, a God-fearer, one who avoids evil, rich, a family man, and a sincere worshiper. He is a picture of an ideal man. Men, we ought to aspire to be such a man rather than the host of famous celebrated men who are paraded before us in the 21st century.

God delights in such a man, and Satan despises such a man. Satan is allowed to send severe suffering upon Job and betting that Job will curse God and accuse God of injustice. Well, we read at the end of chapter 1 “In all this Job did not sin or charge God with wrong.”

Suffering is a difficult experience, but the believer you can be assured that regardless of the weight of suffering, whether measured in ounces or tons, it is never unseen by God or void of purpose.

Believer you are secure in your suffering.

“The man God upholds, devils cannot throw down” (C.H. Spurgeon).

Consider these verses in light of any amount of suffering.

Romans 8:18¹⁸For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worth comparing with the glory that is to be revealed to us.

2 Corinthians 4:17–18¹⁷For this light momentary affliction is preparing for us an eternal weight of glory beyond all comparison, ¹⁸as we look not to the things that are seen but to the things that are unseen. For the things that are seen are transient, but the things that are unseen are eternal.  

1 Peter 1:6⁶In this you rejoice, though now for a little while, if necessary, you have been grieved by various trials,

1 Peter 5:10¹⁰And after you have suffered a little while, the God of all grace, who has called you to his eternal glory in Christ, will himself restore, confirm, strengthen, and establish you.

Psalm 30:5⁵For his anger is but for a moment, and his favor is for a lifetime. Weeping may tarry for the night, but joy comes with the morning.

Father, Thanks be to You, who knows the strength of our frame and the need of our faith in the face of suffering. You are righteous in all your ways and thank you for the promised security we find by being born again to a living hope… to an inheritance that is imperishable, undefiled, and unfading kept for us in heaven. In the name of Jesus, Amen