JOB 1:1-22

I have never experienced anything approaching the devastation Job witnessed and felt. If you have never sat down and read this book in one sitting, I encourage you strongly to do so. This book is a rollercoaster from happiness to sorrow to happiness. At the same time, it presents reason and illogic, sound teaching and falsehood. All to teach Job – and us – how to sustain joy in the midst of human tragedy.

Job had the good life and the wonderful family to share it with. Suddenly it was all gone. Happiness was ripped from him. He and his wife and his friends examine these things to try and make sense of it all. We see anger, resentment, sorrow and bitterness. But Job says, “Blessed be the name of the LORD”. Job chose joy.

Joy is a choice … surrounded by emotions!

Nothing seemed to make any sense, including the reaction of this godly man. He gives evidence of his confusion. His words reveal some misconceptions. Others try to convict him of sin, offering these dreadful circumstances as proof. His wife offered the worst advice…

Then his wife said to him, “Do you still hold fast your integrity? Curse God and die.” But he said to her, “You speak as one of the foolish women would speak. Shall we receive good from God, and shall we not receive evil?” In all this Job did not sin with his lips.       Job 2:9-10

Sometimes events just don’t make sense. The truth is, they don’t have to if we trust God and choose joy. Our lives, too, will be rollercoasters filled with good times and bad. Far too many place their faith on a rollercoaster, as well. This can be more devastating than life’s circumstances. The key to overcoming life is to keep the faith, just like Job did when life turns upside down.

Joy is a choice … unaffected by circumstances!

When you finish reading the story of Job, we learn that he is blessed by God in his latter years even more than his former years. He held fast to his integrity and listened while God taught him. When his life fell apart, he did not sin. As the bad news rolled in, he worshipped God. With each person and thing torn away from him, he acknowledged God as the giver of all blessings. He absolutely was sorrowful, not stoic. Even so, his joy kept him centered and his deeds revealed the integrity of a godly man.

Joy is a choice … revealed in actions!

Discover … His Joy

Access … His Joy

Share … His Joy