What did Job lose?
(Job 1:13-19, NKJV; Job 2:7-8, NKJV)
In one day, Job and his wife lost all their kids, their wealth, and then his health. Not only did Job and his wife suffer personal loss and financial loss, there was also the physical loss of Job’s health.
What were some of the turning points from Job’s worst year ever to the best year ever?
(Job 2:9, NKJV; Job 1:1, NKJV: Psalm 50:15, NKJV; 2 Corinthians 1:3, NKJV)
A person with true integrity does not give up or quit when things are tough or at their worst. Job was a man of integrity before and after the tragedy. When tragedy comes, God should be the first person we turn to and from. Whether you have been close to God or not, He still should be the first person we turn to. The difference in Job was that he was already in a close relationship with God.
The closer the relationship we have with God, at least three things happen:
#1 – The faster we turn to God.
#2 – The faster we allow God to comfort us.
#3 – The faster we begin to ask, “What can I learn and how can you use me?” instead of, “Why did you allow this?”
Job had an Eternal perspective.
(Job 1:19-22, NKJV; Job 1:6-12, NKJV; 1 Peter 5:8: NKJV; Philippians 1:21, NKJV; 1 Corinthians 2:7-9, NKJV; Job 42:12, NKJV)
If you don’t have and Eternal perspective when tragedy hits, it will be an even greater tragedy. There is no greater tragedy, grief, pain and sorrow than to try and go through tragedy without having an eternal perspective. Paul Understood what it was like to have a heavenly perspective.
Important insights to remember:
Some things you will not understand until you get to Heaven. Bad things do happen to good people that we will never understand until we get to Heaven. There are things going on in Heaven that we don’t understand here on earth. We must learn to have a heavenly perspective on life because no matter what, this life will not last.
Job hurt and mourned to God.
(Job 2:11-13, NKJV; Job 3:1-3, NKJV)
Many times, our first response to tragedy, pain, loss or suffering is to do nothing but mourn and cry out. The reason we feel this way is because we can’t describe the pain, hurt, and sorrow.
Many times, your friends question why you’re really suffering. (Job 4:3-8, NKJV) Job’s so-called friends questioned why he really suffered. Was it something he did?
Job questioned God.
(Job 13:23-24, NLT2, Job 23:2-4, TLB)
God allowed Job to vent. God allows us to hurt and vent, but then He wants us to listen. We are not God and we will not understand the ways of God. We had better come to the point that we understand Who is really in control and it is not us.
God answers Job.
(Job 38:1-6, TLB; Job 38:2, MSG; Job 38:2, NCV; Job 38:8, TLB; Job 38:33-35, TLB; Job 39:26-27, TLB)
Job agreed with God.
This was Job’s first step to healing and victory. Job acknowledged God’s purpose and plans are right, even when he felt and thought they were wrong.
Job prayed to God.
(Job 42:7-10, NKJV; Job 42:12, NKJV)
Job had to accept forgiveness from his friends and then he had to pray for them. We will not receive the blessings of God until we accept forgiveness from those who have hurt us and pray for them. As Job was praying for his friends, God was restoring him. We often miss the blessings and being restored because we miss the process or stop before we receive them.
My prayer for those hurting form loss:
2 Corinthians 1:3
