Good afternoon, everyone!
Today I read Job 29-31.
In today's reading, Job talks about how wonderful his past was: how prosperous he was, how God watched over him, how people respected him, how he was able to help people.
It doesn't sound like bragging, rather Job is mourning what he lost.
And today's reading reminded me how dangerous that can be.
We can get so caught up in how "good" the past was, especially while we're going through a storm, that we can distort our views or even mourn something that wasn't really good for us.
In addition, when we lose something, it seems like the worst thing in the world (and in Job's case, it was really bad), but it's not the worst thing.
The storm is not the worst thing. Even when it's horrible. Even when what we had before looks better, we have to remember that waiting times and storms are God's way of preparing us for something.
Always something better.
Job's life is awful right now. He can't even see the point in living, and prays for death. But it will get better. Keep reading with me to see what God does when Job's storm is over.
And please, please remember. Just because it's bad now doesn't mean the past was better. Just because it's bad now doesn't mean it will be bad forever.
God has better in store for all of us. Sometimes that requires a period of waiting, or a storm so that we can grow into who we need to be to receive the better.
For example: I moved to Arizona in 2013. I could not find a job. I tried and tried, and nothing worked. I was lonely. I was depressed. And finally I went to church. I began seeking God again.
And I got a job. Not right away. I had a little more waiting to do. But if I had gotten a job right away, I never would have sought God. I wouldn't have realized how much I needed Him.
And now, I even have my dream job. It's so much fun. It's rewarding. And I have the best coworkers.
And I'm so glad He made me wait and experience the trials that came with being unemployed. I've grown as a person. I've learned things I wouldn't have otherwise.
And what's more, I know who God is now, and I have a relationship with Him that astounds me every day.
I can't believe how much I've grown. I wouldn't even recognize who I was before.
It does get better. It does.
God does not leave us alone during the storms. He is always there with us, waiting for us to turn to Him.
Don't glorify the past, when God has so much better in store for your future. And don't magnify the storms, when God is so much bigger.
I hope you'll join me tomorrow when I read Job 32-34.
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