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When It Rains, It Pours

 

Job 1:13-19 describes some of the worst things to happen to an individual. They came in clusters. Bad news followed bad news. He does not encounter a spy acting alone. Job is ambushed from all sides by a battalion. He was bankrupt all in one day!! He lost all his children to a great wind! His health was nearly gone!

How he would react to such disaster is worth our consideration. if we can learn something from Job, we might get the help we need to cushion us if such were to ever happen to us.

Job’s first reaction to this news was worship (Job 1:20). It is odd how tragedy causes some who normally worship to cease from doing so. Is there something wrong with worship that it does not wok in time of trouble? Job did not think so. He arose, “rent his robe, and shaved his head, and fell down upon the ground, and worshipped.” If there is ever a time one ought to draw close to God and worship reverently, it is in time of crisis. The more problems there are, the more help there is available (1 Peter 5:7). It is encouraging to see a Christian or family arrive together to worship God, seeking His help to manage their lives during tough times.

Job expressed strong faith. Instead of charging God foolishly, Job said, “Jehovah gave, and Jehovah taketh away: blessed be the name of Jehovah” (Job 1:21). Job knew God knew best, and whatever He decided, it would be alright with Job. His trust was in God’s righteousness. Job believed in His love, grace, goodness, and wisdom. He did not resort to asking, “Why did God do this to me?” Job knew God allowed “taking” but understood God was also “giving. Dealing with disaster is not handled with blame, self-pity, and hatred. People need to gird up the loins of their minds and resolve to have faith stronger than the devastation they experience.

Job also guarded himself from sin. “In all this Job sinned not, nor charged God foolishly” (Job 1:22). Satan will use a disastrous moment to break us down. If it takes one bad message after another, he will use that to his advantage. He wants our patience to wear thin. The devil would love for our spirits to break. He hopes our dedication will lose its stability. Every Christian needs to develop a conviction and decide regardless of the trouble, he will not yield to temptation. “I’ll be true, come what may,” should be an attitude toward trials.

With every storm comes rain, wind, and floods. How well is your house (life) built? Could you endure the pressure from troubles that may possibly poured upon you like rain? Remember, although rain may come in a downpour, so does sunshine...