Today’s reading: Job 23-29; Psalm 42

My heart is breaking
as I remember how it used to be:
I walked among the crowds of worshipers,
leading a great procession to the house of God,
singing for joy and giving thanks
amid the sound of a great celebration! – Psalm 42:4

Everything Job had loved about life was gone and he was grieving. He liked the way things had been, but it was beyond his control to get it all back. The contrast of the joy of yesterday compared to the pain of today caused him to despair all of his tomorrows. If only things could go back to the way they had been.

WHY CAN’T THINGS GO BACK TO THE WAY THEY USED TO BE?

“I long for the years gone by when God took care of me,
when he lit up the way before me and I walked safely through the darkness.
When I was in my prime, God’s friendship was felt in my home.
The Almighty was still with me, and my children were around me.
My steps were awash in cream, and the rocks gushed olive oil for me.

“Those were the days when I went to the city gate
and took my place among the honored leaders.
The young stepped aside when they saw me,
and even the aged rose in respect at my coming.
The princes stood in silence and put their hands over their mouths.
The highest officials of the city stood quietly, holding their tongues in respect.

“All who heard me praised me. All who saw me spoke well of me.
For I assisted the poor in their need and the orphans who required help.
I helped those without hope, and they blessed me.
And I caused the widows’ hearts to sing for joy.
Everything I did was honest.
Righteousness covered me like a robe, and I wore justice like a turban.
I served as eyes for the blind and feet for the lame.
I was a father to the poor and assisted strangers who needed help.” – Job 29:2-16

When Job lost his family, his livestock, his servants, and his health, he lost his identity. He liked the way things used to be and he missed the opportunities life had afforded him. He was uncomfortable being in this place where others were taking pity on him; he longed for the days when he was the one who came to the rescue of others. His expectations of what the future would hold had been erased, and his confidence in the heart of God was fading. Can you relate?

DO YOU EVER FIND YOURSELF QUESTIONING THE HEART OF GOD?

“I thought, ‘Surely I will die surrounded by my family after a long, good life.
For I am like a tree whose roots reach the water, whose branches are refreshed with the dew.
New honors are constantly bestowed on me, and my strength is continually renewed.’” – Job 29:18-20

When everything in life is going well, we begin planning out our future. We have no doubt that life is good and our God is great! But when the people we love start making decisions beyond our control, we panic. When sickness and disease take away our family members and friends, we grieve. When others start looking at us differently, we feel unappreciated and devalued. Feelings of worthlessness crowd in and, like Job, we start spiraling into depression.

If this describes where you are at right now or what you are feeling, my prayer for you this morning is that you will allow the following verses to wash over you. There is no simple fix to our deepest sorrows and no quick remedy for depression, but we can allow the healing to begin when we regain our confidence in who God is and choose to believe that He is present.

The Lord hears his people when they call to him for help.
He rescues them from all their troubles.
The Lord is close to the brokenhearted;
He rescues those whose spirits are crushed.
The righteous person faces many troubles,
but the Lord comes to the rescue each time. – Psalm 34:17-19

WE CAN TRUST THE HEART OF THE GOD WHO LOVES US!

There is no guarantee that we will go through life without troubles or heartbreak, but God does promise to rescue us. In life, we will experience all of the emotions that everyone else experiences, but we can stand on the promise that we are never alone — that God is with us and that He will hold us up when we don’t have the strength to stand on our own. He wants us to bring all of our emotions to Him, trusting the heart of the God who loves us.

Why am I discouraged?
Why is my heart so sad?
I will put my hope in God!
I will praise him again — my Savior and my God!
Now I am deeply discouraged,
but I will remember you. – Psalm 42:5-6a

Don’t be afraid, for I am with you.
Don’t be discouraged, for I am your God.
I will strengthen you and help you.
I will hold you up with my victorious right hand. – Isaiah 41:10