Accept Adversity

“Walk in the Light of the His presence; stay on His path with steadfast steps” Ps. 89:15-16

 This year, God gave me the word Steadfastness to study and apply to my life. It’s been a tough year, but the study encouraged me to keep my eyes upon Him. So I decided to use my notes for this year’s A-Z Blog Challenge. I hope it helps you to keep your feet on the path and your eyes upon Him.

Steadfastness: disciplined, persistent, determined, stable, firm-standing; even paced, not running, not crawling

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“Still holding on to your precious integrity, are you?” Mrs. Job scorned her husband has he scrapped the ulcerous sores covering his body. “Curse God and be done with it…die!”

Job sat among the ashes like a heap of trash ready to be burned. “You’re talking like an empty-headed fool, woman.” He pulled a broken piece of pottery across the painful, swollen, oozing boils.. “We take the good days from God—why shouldn’t we also accept adversity when it comes.”

In one day Job and his wife lost everything—1,000 oxen, 500 donkeys, 3,000 camels, 7,000 sheep, shepherds, field hands, camel drivers, and most importantly, all of their sons and daughters—wiped out by enemy massacres, lightning bolts, fire, sword, theft, and a “great wind.”

“Naked I came from my mother’s womb, and naked I shall return there. The Lord gave and the Lord has taken away. Blessed be the name of the Lord.” He ripped his robe, fell to the ground, and worshiped.

'Oi'!' She threw up her hands and walked away…never to be heard from again. (The Bible doesn’t tell us if she is still his wife at the end of the book.)

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It was not a good day for Job, nor were the days (or weeks) which followed when his friends came to his aid. They brought both good and not so good words of counsel and encouragement (or discouragement). Yet, through it all, this “blameless, upright, God-fearing man” never sinned or blamed God. He remained steadfast in his faithfulness to the Lord.

He accepted the adversity, hardship, misfortune, and unbelievable harsh circumstances by worshipping the Lord. “Blessed be the name of the Lord.”

“As God lives…the Almighty…the breath of God is in my nostrils, my lips certainly will not speak unjustly, or will my tongue utter deceit…till I die I will not put away integrity…I hold fast my righteousness and will not let go.” Job 27:1-6 (nasb)

Would we have responded in this way? Do we remain steadfast in our integrity, righteousness, and faithfulness to the One who gives…and can take away? Would you bow in worship and proclaim, “Blessed be the name of the Lord”?

Cross references – Job 1:1-3; 13-19; 21-22; 2:8-10; 27:1-6; 29:1; Ps. 39:1; James 1:12

"Blessed Be Your Name" sung by Matt Redman