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If the Gospel is not preached (one different from what Paul, Jesus, and the Apostles preached), people are condemned to hell.

The Gospel Is Key

Job’s Anguish

Job 3

Job “curses the day of his birth.”  Job cries out in despair.  When one is in the deepest valley it is easy to fall into despair and wonder why we are even on this earth.  I think that at this point, Job has lost a lot of his faith in his God.  Our faith in God can sustain us in the darkest hour. 

We do not have to question why God allowed us to be here on this earth.  Although we may not know our immediate purpose, we can know for sure that God’s plan for us is good.  Some scripture to follow…

The Accuser

Job 1 – 2

Job has been immensely blessed by God.  He is also righteous before God.  We see here that Satan is summoned daily before God to give account of what he is doing.  It is also here where we see one of his roles as accuser.  God asks Satan to consider Job and his righteousness.  Satan accuses Job of doing it because he is blessed of God.  He says that if God was to take away Job’s blessing, Job would curse God.  God then allows Satan to take away Job’s material possessions and children.  Of course, Job mourns his loss, but he also praises God. 

We see how relentless Satan is in his accusations.  Satan says that Job still blesses and praises God because he has his health.  God then allows Satan to inflict disease upon Job.  Job still does not curse God, even when his own wife says he should.

Do we have Job’s faith?  If we are blown into the valleys of life, will we continue to praise God?  If we do not love God, even in the midst of the storms of life, how strong is our faith towards Him?  Is it easy?  Not all the time.  But there is so much in God’s Word that attest to His faithfulness and His love for us.  Also, we can, as followers of Christ, look upon the times in our own lives to His faithfulness and love for us.  This can give us hope and comfort while we are in the valley and storms are all around us.

Next, we will see that although Job’s faith towards God is not shaken, his attitude towards Him is not right.

Storms in the Valley

I hear a lot about being in the mountain top or being in a valley. Sometimes, though, I think there are times where one is either in the mountain top or valley and there are storms. A storm can drive someone from the mountain top into a valley. But, what if you are encountering a storm (or storms) while you are in the valley? I have to emphatically say to “get in God’s Word!” This sounds like the pat Christian answer, but it is the ONLY answer.

If we are in the Word and focusing on it (not being distracted) while being in it, we can open ourselves to what the Holy Spirit wants to say to us. The Holy Spirit can speak to us in many ways. He may speak to us and what He says will be in what we are reading. He may guide us to seek Godly counsel from someone. He may also bring to mind something totally irrelevant to what you are reading in the Word, but the mere fact you are open to Him gives you what is needed to hear Him.

I say the above as I currently experience some storms in a valley. I know that the Word will shelter me from the storms, although I remain in the valley. Only God can place me back on the mountain.

Recently some verses in God’s Word have encouraged me:

The righteous cry out, and the Lord hears them;
he delivers them from all their troubles.
The Lord is close to the brokenhearted
and saves those who are crushed in spirit.
A righteous man may have many troubles,
but the Lord delivers him from them all;
he protects all his bones,
not one of them will be broken.
                                    - Psalm 34:17-20

Also recently, I was reading Psalm 18, and the Holy Spirit spoke to me of something that was totally irrelevant to the Psalm, but it was something the He wanted me to do. So, for me, it illustrates what I was saying above.