Job's Pain And Suffering

Job was struck with terrible tragedies and afflictions (Job 2:11). But throughout his pain and suffering, he continued to trust in God (Job 1:22). He knew that after all his trials, he “shall come forth as gold” (Job 23:10). God was merely purging away the “dross” (Isa 1:25), or the impurities of his life! This book ends with a renewed hope of contentment and peace for the future, as the Lord blessed Job with “twice as much as he had before.” When we look ahead for this New Year, we see a new beginning – the old is past and put away forever! God wants us to press on and move forward (Php 3:14), by putting away all the fears, failures, anxieties, resentments, distrusts, hurts, criticisms, and grudges of the past (Lk 9:62).

 We must cast all our cares upon the Lord (1 Pet 5:7), and start anew. But if we insist on living in the past, then we’ll find ourselves like Job’s friends, who kindled God’s anger and wrath (Job 42:7). Instead of relying upon our own strength and our ways, we must simply “trust in the Lord” (Prov 3:5). This would only be true if you are His child, by trusting Jesus as your Lord and Saviour by faith (Heb 11:6). Surely, we shall face some new challenges and trials this coming year.

Every bible-believing Christian will always have to fight against this sinful world, the flesh (1 Jn 2:16), and the devil (1 Pet 5:8). Our enemies will try to hinder our walk with God so we can stumble and fail; but the Lord is always there to help us stand up (Prov 24:16), and “fight the good fight of faith” (1 Tim 6:12). Whatever you are going through or have been through this year, you can rest upon God’s grace (Isa 40:31), for the blessings that He is waiting to give. How would you live this New Year? The choice is yours! God bless you!

-Pastor Melito Barrera