ESOCS Devotional 5 September 2023 – When Challenges Hit Hard
MEMORY VERSE: “…and said: “Naked I came from my mother’s womb, and naked I will depart. The Lord gave and the Lord has taken away; may the name of the Lord be praised. In all this, Job did not sin by charging God with wrongdoing.” Job 1:21-22 NIV
TEXT: JOB 1:3-END (KJV)
His substance also was seven thousand sheep, and three thousand camels, and five hundred yoke of oxen, and five hundred she asses, and a very great household; so that this man was the greatest of all the men of the east.
4 And his sons went and feasted in their houses, every one his day; and sent and called for their three sisters to eat and to drink with them.
5 And it was so, when the days of their feasting were gone about, that Job sent and sanctified them, and rose up early in the morning, and offered burnt offerings according to the number of them all: for Job said, It may be that my sons have sinned, and cursed God in their hearts. Thus did Job continually.
6 Now there was a day when the sons of God came to present themselves before the Lord, and Satan came also among them.
7 And the Lord said unto Satan, Whence comest thou? Then Satan answered the Lord, and said, From going to and fro in the earth, and from walking up and down in it.
8 And the Lord said unto Satan, Hast thou considered my servant Job, that there is none like him in the earth, a perfect and an upright man, one that feareth God, and escheweth evil?
9 Then Satan answered the Lord, and said, Doth Job fear God for nought?
10 Hast not thou made an hedge about him, and about his house, and about all that he hath on every side? thou hast blessed the work of his hands, and his substance is increased in the land.
11 But put forth thine hand now, and touch all that he hath, and he will curse thee to thy face.
12 And the Lord said unto Satan, Behold, all that he hath is in thy power; only upon himself put not forth thine hand. So Satan went forth from the presence of the Lord.
13 And there was a day when his sons and his daughters were eating and drinking wine in their eldest brother’s house:
14 And there came a messenger unto Job, and said, The oxen were plowing, and the asses feeding beside them:
15 And the Sabeans fell upon them, and took them away; yea, they have slain the servants with the edge of the sword; and I only am escaped alone to tell thee.
16 While he was yet speaking, there came also another, and said, The fire of God is fallen from heaven, and hath burned up the sheep, and the servants, and consumed them; and I only am escaped alone to tell thee.
17 While he was yet speaking, there came also another, and said, The Chaldeans made out three bands, and fell upon the camels, and have carried them away, yea, and slain the servants with the edge of the sword; and I only am escaped alone to tell thee.
18 While he was yet speaking, there came also another, and said, Thy sons and thy daughters were eating and drinking wine in their eldest brother’s house:
19 And, behold, there came a great wind from the wilderness, and smote the four corners of the house, and it fell upon the young men, and they are dead; and I only am escaped alone to tell thee.
20 Then Job arose, and rent his mantle, and shaved his head, and fell down upon the ground, and worshipped,
21 And said, Naked came I out of my mother’s womb, and naked shall I return thither: the Lord gave, and the Lord hath taken away; blessed be the name of the Lord.
22 In all this Job sinned not, nor charged God foolishly.
Read Yesterday’s ESOCS Devotional here
The vicissitudes of life are necessities that everyone must know and understand its inevitability. For as long as life and destiny is concerned; no man born of a woman will attain the apex of destiny having a smooth sail void of challenges. This might not be pleasant to the ears but it is a sad reality we all must embrace.
How can you explain the fact that a man who have lived all his life trusting and believing God, a man who have followed and committed his totality to the best of his ability unto God would wake up one morning and almost everything he has lived his life labouring for and enjoying gone within a twinkle of an eye? Children gone, house gone, businesses gone and loved ones lost…Ah! This is very thoughtful and unbearable, yet in all Job did not speak ill about God.
See, you might have been married for years yet no child to call your own, you might have been struggling for years yet nothing tangible to show forth, you might have been doing your best in pursuance of success yet efforts are not adding up, what are your reactions to these challenges?
So many persons have spoken ill about God in their times of challenges.
So many people have given up on their faith and even stopped going to church because of how bad they felt when the challenges of life came hitting, so many are contemplating entering into a transaction with the devil because they are fed up already with God, and his promises.
Please, can I tell you something? In the days of life challenges, do not give up on God for He is the God of all flesh, there is nothing too hard for him to do (Jeremiah 32:27). After that test, great testimony awaits you, go through that phase with songs of praise, and I assure you that our God shall give you results that shall cancel all insults.
- No matter what you are passing through today, do not follow the opinions of men. The scripture is the point of reference for all believers. Search them and you shall be consoled.
- Oh Lord, I might get weary as a result of life challenges around me if you do not help me. Please, come to my aid and save me, also make me to rejoice at the end of it all.
FURTHER READING: Psalm 34:1, Habakkuk 3:17-19, 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18
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ESOCS Devotional 5 September 2023
