I have hidden your word in my heart that I might not sin against you. – Psalm 119:11

I have heard this verse a thousand times. I memorized it as a child and have sung the words, recited the words, and used the words to encourage others. I read it again this morning and it is fresh and new. Isn’t God incredible?!! His word is living and active. Even the scriptures we have known all our lives come alive to us at different times. We go from “Yeah, yeah, I’ve heard that before” to “Wow, I never thought of it that way!”

So what is this revelation to my heart? Holiness – I hide God’s word in my heart so that I can live out the holiness He is calling me to. His word is a lamp unto my feet on this journey of holiness; a light unto my path (Psalm 119:105).

Help me understand the meaning of your commandments,
and I will meditate on your wonderful deeds.
I weep with sorrow; encourage me by your word.
Keep me from lying to myself; give me the privilege of knowing your instructions…
Teach me your decrees, O Lord; I will keep them to the end.
Give me understanding and I will obey your instructions;
I will put them into practice with all my heart.
Make me walk along the path of your commands, for this is where my happiness is found.
Give me an eagerness for your laws rather than a love for money!
Turn my eyes from worthless things, and give me life through your word.
Reassure me of your promise, made to those who fear you.
Help me abandon my shameful ways; for your regulations are good.
I long to obey your commandments!
Renew my life with your goodness. – Psalm 119: 33-40

God’s word encourages me when I am sad.
God’s word reveals truth to me when I am trying to convince myself of what I want to be true.
God’s word reminds me of the value in God’s plan.
God’s word reassures me of His promises and I am renewed!

God has done more than just hand us His word. He continues to use His word to teach us and to give us understanding. Obedience comes from these teaching moments and these teaching moments create more obedience. We walk along the path of holiness and we find happiness in following God’s ways.

How I delight in your commands!
I love them! – Psalm 119:47

Let’s join the psalmist in his love song of commitment to the God of holiness.

Lord, you are mine!
I promise to obey your words!
With all my heart I want your blessings.
Be merciful as you promised.
I pondered the direction of my life, and I turned to follow your laws.
I will hurry, without delay, to obey your commands.
Evil people try to drag me into sin, but I am firmly anchored to your instructions.
I rise at midnight to thank you for your just regulations.
I am a friend to anyone who fears you – anyone who obeys your commandments.
O Lord, your unfailing love fills the earth; teach me your decrees. – Psalm 119:57-64

You made me; you created me.
Now give me the sense to follow your commands…
For I have put my hope in your word…
Now let your unfailing love comfort me, just as you promised me, your servant.
Surround me with your tender mercies so I may live,
for your instructions are my delight…
My eyes are straining to see your promises come true. – Psalm 119:73-77,82

Oh, how I love your instructions!
I think about them all day long.
Your commands make me wiser than my enemies, for they are my constant guide.
Yes, I have more insight…I am even wiser…
Your commandments give me understanding… – Psalm 119:97-104

Your laws are my treasure; they are my heart’s delight…
Your word is my source of hope – Psalm 119:111,114b

I love the Lord because he hears my voice and my prayer for mercy.
Because he bends down to listen, I will pray as long as I have breath! – Psalm 116:1-2

He loves you and He hears you. There is nothing going on in your life that He is unaware of – no detail missed by Him. He is bending down and listening. Enter into His presence and share your heart with Him. You will find kindness and mercy. THE LORD IS FOR YOU!

Then I called on the name of the Lord: “Please save me!”
How kind the Lord is! How good he is!
So merciful, this God of ours.
The Lord protects those of childlike faith;
I was facing death, and he saved me.
Let my soul be at rest again, for the Lord has been good to me.
He has saved me from death, my eyes from tears, my feet from stumbling.
And so I walk in the Lord’s presence as I live here on earth!
I believe in you, so I said, “I am deeply troubled, Lord.” – Psalm 116:4-10

In my distress I prayed to the Lord, and the Lord answered me and set me free.
THE LORD IS FOR ME, so I will have no fear.
What can mere people do to me?
Yes, THE LORD IS FOR ME; he will help me.
I will look in triumph at those who hate me.
It is better to take refuge in the Lord than to trust in people.
It is better to take refuge in the Lord than to trust in princes. – Psalm 118:5-9

God is for you! He is aware of everything going on and loves you deeply. It is better to go to Him and take refuge than to look to other people for answers. It is better to go to Him and take refuge than to trust in earthly authority and leadership. When we enter into His presence and pray to Him, bending down to listen He answers us. He saves us from death. He wipes the tears from our eyes and keeps our feet from stumbling.

Light shines in the darkness for the godly… – Psalm 112:4a

He lifts the poor from the dust and the needy form the garbage dump.
He sets them among princes, even the princes of his own people!
He gives the childless woman a family, making her a happy mother. – Psalm 113:7-9

We serve a God who sees the hurts and needs of His people. He reaches down and cares for them through the generous love of the godly. He creates in them a natural desire to be generous with others. It is through us that God meets the needs of others. It is through others that God meets our needs.

Light shines in the darkness for the godly.
They are generous, compassionate and righteous.
Good comes to those who lend money generously and conduct their business fairly.
Such people will not be overcome by evil.
Those who are righteous will be long remembered.
They do not fear bad news:
They confidently trust the Lord to care for them.
They are confident and fearless and can face their foes triumphantly.
They share freely and give generously to those in need.
Their good deeds will be remembered forever.
They will have influence and honor. – Psalm 112:4-9

Let us draw into God’s presence and take refuge in Him so that He can strengthen us and prepare us to be His hands and feet in the lives of others. THE LORD IS FOR YOU! Until we have entered into His presence and allowed Him to heal us and fill us with His Spirit, we are not ready to help others. We need to first go to Him and then allow Him to send us.

Open for me the gates where the righteous enter, and I will go in and thank the Lord.
These gates lead to the presence of the Lord, and the godly enter there.
I thank you for answering my prayer and giving me victory!…

This is the day the Lord has made.
We will rejoice and be glad in it. – Psalm 118:19-21, 24

O Lord, I have so many enemies; so many are against me.
So many are saying, “God will never rescue him!”

But you, O Lord, are a shield around me;
You are my glory, the one who holds my head high.
I cried out to the Lord, and he answered me from his holy mountain.
I lay down and slept, yet I woke up in safety,
for the Lord was watching over me. – Psalm 3:1-5

The book of Psalms is the place many of us go when we are struggling – when difficult times are upon us and we are wondering why God is allowing us to walk such a hard path. The Psalms remind us that God allows us to go through pain and experience problems so that we will long for His PRESENCE, recognize His PROVISION, and cry out for His PROTECTION. Over and over again you see this pattern in the poetry of the Psalms – this dance between man and God.

The Lord is a shelter for the oppressed, a refuge in times of trouble.
Those who know your name trust in you, for you, O Lord,
do not abandon those who search for you. – Psalm 9:9-10

Difficult times come and our faith in God causes us to seek Him in the midst of the pain – where is God (PRESENCE), how is He going to help me (PROVISION) and am I going to survive this (PROTECTION)? We cry out “Lord, have mercy!” (9:13a) and He hears the hopes of the helps – He hears their cries and comforts them, bringing justice and faith to replace the fear (10:17-18).

Turn and answer me, O Lord my God!
Restore the sparkle to my eyes, or I will die.
Don’t let my enemies gloat, saying, “We have defeated him!”
Don’t let them rejoice at my downfall.
But I trust in your unfailing love.
I will rejoice because you have rescued me.
I will sing to the Lord because he is good to me. – Psalm 13:3-6

Keep me safe, O God, for I have come to you for refuge.
I said to the Lord, “You are my Master! Every good thing I have comes from you.”…
Lord, you alone are my inheritance, my cup of blessing.
You guard all that is mine. [PROVISION]
The land you have given me is a pleasant land. What a wonderful inheritance!
I will bless the Lord who guides me; even at night my heart instructs me.
I will not be shaken, for he is right beside me…
You will show me the way of life, granting me the joy of your PRESENCE
and the pleasures of living with you forever. – Psalm 16:1-2,5-8,11

This dance of life is a partner dance – a dance rooted in relationship with God. We are not meant to struggle alone but to allow difficult times to bring us back to the dance floor where God hears our cries, knows every detail of our problems and stays by our side through it all. It is His PRESENCE that helps us find joy despite our circumstances.

I love you, Lord; you are my strength.
The Lord is my rock, my fortress, and my savior;
My God is my rock, in whom I find PROTECTION.
He is my shield, the power that saves me, and my place of safety.
I called on the Lord, who is worthy of praise, and he saved me from my enemies.
The ropes of death entangled me; floods of destruction swept over me.
The grave wrapped its ropes around me; death laid a trap in my path.
But in my distress I cried out to the Lord; yes, I prayed to my God for help.
He heard me from his sanctuary; my cry to him reached his ears. – Psalm 18:1-6

For some their pain is physical and they are faced with a disease or injury that threatens their life. The same God is their Great Physician, listening to the cries of their heart and making the same promises – I will be with you (PRESENCE), I will be everything you need (PROVISION) and I will be your fortress (PROTECTION).

Perhaps you are thinking – I am not a good dancer. I avoid the dance floor because it is hard for me to submit to someone else’s lead. I can deal with my own problems without His PRESENCE, I have my own source of PROVISION and I do not need His PROTECTION. The psalmist declares his own testimony of letting go and allowing God to draw him out of the dark and into His light. We do not have to know what to do but simply allow God to take the lead, supporting us and keeping our feet from slipping – even in the most difficult of situations.

You light a lamp for me.
The Lord, my God, lights up my darkness.
In your strength I can crush an army; with my God I can scale a wall.
God’s way is perfect. All the Lord’s promises prove true.
He is a shield for all who look to him for PROTECTION.
For who is God except the Lord?
Who but our God is a solid rock?
God arms me with strength [PROVISION] and makes my way perfect.
He makes me as surefooted as a deer, enabling me to stand on mountain heights.
He trains my hands for battle; he strengthens my arm to draw a bronze bow.
You have given me your shield of victory.
Your right hand supports me; your help has made me great.
You have made a wide path for my feet to keep them from slipping. – Ps. 18:28-36

God is speaking. Can you hear Him? “Can I have this dance?” Will you trust Him and allow Him to take the lead? Will you let go of the pain and the problems and hold onto Him instead?

I listen carefully to what God the Lord is saying,
for he speaks peace to his faithful people. – Psalm 85:8a

I wonder if God is speaking to me. I wonder if that is His voice. Have you ever had a similar experience or time when you wondered if you were hearing from God? Do we miss out on opportunities to hear God because we do not step out of our busy schedules to sit still and listen?

Get into the habit of saying, “Speak, Lord,” and life will become a romance. Every time circumstances press in on you, say “Speak, Lord,” and make time to listen. Chastening is more than means of discipline – it is meant to bring me to the point of saying, “Speak, Lord.” Think back to a time when God spoke to you. Do you remember what He said? … As we listen, our ears become more sensitive, and like Jesus, we will hear God all the time (Oswald Chambers, My Utmost for His Highest, January 30th).

Those words resonate with my heart’s desire to be close to God. Many times in my life I have been challenged to think of my relationship with God as any other relationship in my life. In order to draw closer to someone, we must spend time with them and communicate with them, both listening and speaking. This makes sense but the intimacy we have with God is so much deeper than any other relationship. I love how Oswald Chambers describes the life of listening to God as a romance. The more we listen, the more we will hear from God; the more we hear from God, the more sensitive we become to His voice and the more easily we recognize Him.

Last night at youth group, Charlotte More played a song while each of us took time to write in our journals. She urged us to listen for God this week. While we had this special time of entering into God’s presence, she played one of my favorite songs – The More I Seek You, written by Zach Neese and sang by Kari Jobe. The melody is in my head still this morning and the song is in my heart, desiring to recline on my Savior and hear His heartbeat.

The more I seek you, the more I find you.
The more I find you, the more I love you.

The more I seek you, the more I find you.
The more I find you, the more I love you.

Thank you, Lord, for loving me enough to draw me closer to You. I thank you for the experience of resting in Your presence and simply drinking from the cup of Your hand. Teach me to recline and trust You at all times, finding my hope in only You.

I wait quietly before God,
for my victory comes from him.
He alone is my rock and my salvation,
my fortress where I will never be shaken…

Let all that I am wait quietly before God,
for my hope is in him.
He alone is my rock and my salvation,
my fortress where I will not be shaken.
My victory and honor come from God alone.
He is my refuge, a rock where no enemy can reach me.
O my people, trust in him at all times.
Pour out your heart to him,
for God is our refuge. – Psalm 62:1-2,5-8

And the Lord came and called as before, “Samuel! Samuel!”
And Samuel replied, “Speak, your servant is listening.” – 1 Samuel 3:10

Come, let us worship and bow down.
Let us kneel before the Lord our maker, for he is our God.
We are the people he watches over, the flock under his care.
If only you would listen to his voice today! – Psalm 95:6-7

Oh Holy God! I stay amazed.
You are so much more than words could ever say.
Oh Holy God! I pour out my praise
On the One who never ceases to amaze

These are lyrics to the song I Stay Amazed by Gateway Worship. Our God is so amazing but consider how easy it is for us to get so used to that idea that we stop celebrating it. We can easily get so used to the concept that our God is awesome that we don’t stop to really consider just how incredible He is. What if we were to stay amazed?!!

He is more than words can say, yet the Psalmist did a great job of putting the wonderful attributes of God into words. Let’s read the words of Psalm 40 this morning as if we were hearing these things for the first time. Let’s celebrate our wonderful God and stay amazed all day long!

I waited patiently for the LORD to help me,
and he turned to me and heard my cry.
He lifted me out of the pit of despair,
out of the mud and the mire.
He set my feet on solid ground
and steadied me as I walked along.
He has given me a new song to sing,
a hymn of praise to our God.
Many will see what he has done and be amazed.
They will put their trust in the LORD

But may all who search for you
be filled with joy and gladness in you.
May those who love your salvation
repeatedly shout, “The LORD is great!” (Psalm 40:1-9, 11, 16).

But I am like an olive tree, thriving in the house of God.
I will always trust in God’s unfailing love.
I will praise you forever, O God, for what you have done.
I will trust in your good name in the presence of your faithful people. – Ps. 52:8-9

But may all who search for you be filled with joy and gladness in you.
May those who love your salvation repeatedly shout, “God is great!” – Ps. 70:4

“God is so great – higher than the heavens, higher than the farthest stars.” – Job 22:12

Great is the Lord! He is most worthy of praise!…
Give to the Lord the glory he deserves!
Bring your offering and come into his courts.
Worship the Lord in all his holy splendor.
Let all the earth tremble before him. – Ps. 96:4a,8-9

Lord, we stand before you AMAZED! You are great and you are holy! Your wonderful deeds are too numerous to recite, your love beyond unfailing. Lord, we praise you for what you have done and we join our voices together to say we trust in your good name.

Sing a new song of praise to him…and sing with joy (Psalm 33:3). Today is a new day. This is a new week. It’s not just any other Tuesday morning. It’s a new day with new opportunities and a fresh chance to experience God in a new way!

Sing a new song to the Lord! Let the whole earth sing to the Lord! Sing to the Lord; praise his name. Each day proclaim the good news that he saves…Great is the Lord! He is most worthy of praise! (Psalm 96:1-2,4a).

I attended the WINTER JAM tour last weekend with our youth group and enjoyed an incredible five hour concert with ten musicians or groups – some of whom were familiar and a few who I had never heard before. It was wonderful to be surrounded by 8500 people lifting up their voices in praise to God, raising up their hands in surrender to their King.

There were songs of commitment like this one from the Newsboys: “I wanna live with abandon. Give you all that I am. Every part of my heart Jesus I place in your hands. I wanna live with abandon.”

There were songs of struggle like this one from Plumb: “How many times have you heard me cry out ‘God please take this’? How many times have you given me strength to just keep breathing? Oh I need you. God I need you now.”

And there were songs of praise like this one from Colton Dixon: “You are the song, you are the song I’m singing. You are the air, you are the air I’m breathing. You are the hope, you are the hope I’m needing. Whoa. If I had not voice, if I had no tongue, I would dance for you like the rising sun. And when that day comes and I see your face, I will shout your endless, glorious grace..”

I love the songs of salvation where we share about that point of change in our life. What song do you sing because of the place God has saved you from and the wondrous place to which He has brought you? God wants us to continue to sing his praise about the salvation we have experienced. He wants us to share our salvation experience so that others can see that our God saves!

Sing a new song to the Lord, for he has done wonderful deeds. His right hand has won a mighty victory; his holy arm has shown his saving power! …Shout to the Lord, all the earth; break out in praise and sing for joy! (Psalm 98:1,4)

Sing a song of praise today for all of the wonderful things God has done in your life since you gave your heart to Him. From what has he delivered you? In what ways has he made a difference in your life? How has he shown Himself to you and in what ways has He been faithful?

I will sing a new song to you, O God!…Yes, joyful are those who live like this! Joyful indeed are those whose God is the Lord (Psalm 144:9a,15).

Let’s sing a song of joy to the Lord today. My prayer is that all those around us today will sense that we have been in the presence of God by the joy that we show. If God has saved us, if God has delivered us, if God has healed us, if God has done wonderful things in our life, let our joy be evident!

Praise the Lord! Sing to the Lord a new song. Sing his praise in the assembly of the faithful…Let the faithful rejoice that he honors them. Let them sing for joy as they lie on their beds. Let the praises of God be in their mouths, and a sharp sword in their hands… (Psalm 149:1,5-6).

If you were going to write a song today, what would the lyrics be? Perhaps that is what God is calling you to do today – to write a song or a poem or a love note to Him. What does your new song say?

Sing a new song to the Lord! Sing his praises from the ends of the earth!…Let the people of Sela sing for joy; shout praises from the mountaintops! Let the whole world glorify the Lord; let it sing his praise (Isaiah 42:10,11b-12).

Sing a NEW song! What is God doing in your life now – today? What is your most recent story of God’s faithfulness? It is great when we can tell the stories of the wonderful things God has done in our life but how wonderful to share a new and fresh song of what God is DOING.

What will God do today? I eagerly anticipate to hear from God today or to see Him in action – to feel His presence and be filled with His Spirit. What NEW song will God give me today? Will it be a song of praise or a song of salvation, a song of struggle or a song of commitment? I sit in expectation as I wait for the show to begin.

Elihu speaks boldly to Job:
“Listen carefully to the thunder of God’s voice as it rolls from his mouth.
It rolls across the heavens, and his lightning flashes in every direction.
Then comes the roaring of the thunder – the tremendous voice of his majesty.
He does not restrain it when he speaks. God’s voice is glorious in the thunder.
WE CAN’T EVEN IMAGINE THE GREATNESS OF HIS POWER.

“We cannot look at the sun, for it shines brightly in the sky when the wind clears away the clouds.
So also, golden splendor comes from the mountain of God.
He is clothed in dazzling splendor.
WE CANNOT IMAGINE the power of the Almighty;
but even though he is just and righteous, he does not destroy us.
No wonder people fear him.
All who are wise show him reverence.” – Job 37:2-12,15-18,21-24

Then the Lord answered Job from the whirlwind:
“Who is this that questions my wisdom with such ignorant words?
Brace yourself like a man, because I have some questions for you, and you must answer them.
Where were you when I laid the foundations of the earth?
Tell me, if you know so much.
Who determined its dimensions and stretched out the surveying line?
What supports its foundations and who laid its cornerstone as the morning stars sang together and all the angels shouted with joy?

Where does the light come from, and where does the darkness go?
Can you take each to its home?
Do you know how to get there?
But of course you know all this!
For you were born before it was all created, and you are so very experienced! … (Job 38:1-13,16-21)

Then the Lord said to Job,
“Do you still want to argue with the Almighty?
You are God’s critic, but do you have the answers? …
Are you as strong as God? … (Job 40:1-2,9a)

Then Job replied to the Lord:
“I know that you can do anything, and no one can stop you.
You asked, ‘Who is this that questions my wisdom with such ignorance?’
It is I – and I was talking about things I knew nothing about, things far too wonderful for me…
I take back everything I said, and I sit in dust and ashes to show my repentance.” – (Job 42: 1-2,6)

Wow, I wish I could say I have never argued with God. I wish I could claim I have never disagreed with God or questioned His decisions. Unfortunately, I am as guilty as Job. It was I who was talking about things I knew nothing about, things far too wonderful for me.

This morning I recognize that YOU, Almighty God, are strong and powerful and wonderful. I listen to the strong winds blowing outside and I recognize your strength. I stay inside from the below zero temperature outside today and I recognize your control. I do not know what is best. I do not pretend to understand your greater plan. But I do trust you. I sit quietly and watch Your power at work – the power I cannot even fathom the depth of. You, Oh God, are holy and You, Oh God, are great!

“Should we accept only good things from the hand of God and never anything bad?” (Job 2:10) Job’s friends seemed to have an understanding of Job’s sufferings as if it was simply Job’s turn. He had been blessed for years and now it was his turn to suffer hardships. It is as if they are asking – where is your faith and your confident words now that the shoe is on the other foot?

They mocked Job saying, “Your words have supported those who were failing; you encouraged those with shaky knees. But now when trouble strikes, you lose heart. You are terrified when it touches you. Doesn’t your reverence for God give you confidence? Doesn’t your life of integrity give you hope?” – (Job 4:4-6)

Job had an attitude of – I can argue with God but what good will it do? He won’t listen. “So who am I that I should try to answer God or even reason with him? Even if I were right, I would have no defense. I could only plead for mercy. And even if I summoned him and he responded, I’m not sure he would listen to me. For he attacks me with a storm and repeatedly wounds me without cause. He will not let me catch my breath, but fills me instead with bitter sorrows. If it’s a question of strength, he’s the strong one. If it’s a matter of justice, who dares to summon him to court?” – (Job 9:14-19)

I agree with Elihu’s response to Job when he said, “But it is wrong to say God doesn’t listen, to say the Almighty isn’t concerned” (Job 35:13).

Job goes on to question God’s wisdom in even allowing him to be born if he was going to eventually let him suffer like this (Job 10:8-12,18-22). Job demonstrates an internal conflict between being in awe of the power of God and being disappointed with the wisdom of God. In one breath he is speaking of how great God is and in another breath he is questioning the motives and decisions of God. If Job was without sin before the hard times came, he is now demonstrating his human, sinful side by questioning the authority of God.

Job was downright angry with God. Many of us can relate to a moment in our lives where we questioned God by asking “Why?” In our grief, we experienced anger and we took our anger to God but there’s a difference between taking your anger to God and taking your anger out on God. I think this is where Job messes up. It’s not a sin that he is experiencing human emotions in the midst of his grief and pain, it is what he does with the emotion that trips him up. Job is arguing with God and criticizing God’s wisdom.

Are you currently questioning the wisdom of God regarding a situation in your life? Are you arguing with God? Are you angry with Him? Let’s look at some verses in Job to consider just how awesome and wise our God is – how worthy He is of our trust in even the most difficult times. Let us consider that God is greater than we can understand.

“Can you solve the mysteries of God?
Can you discover everything about the Almighty?
Such knowledge is higher than the heavens – and who are you?
It is deeper than the underworld – what do you know?
It is broader than the earth and wider than the sea?” – (Job 11:7-9)

“God stretches the northern sky over empty space and hangs the earth on nothing.
He wraps the rain in his thick clouds, and the clouds don’t burst with the weight.
He covers the face of the moon, shrouding it with clouds.
He created the horizon when he separated the waters; he set the boundary between day and night.
The foundations of heaven tremble; they shudder at his rebuke.
By his power the sea grew calm…
These are just the beginning of all that he does, merely a whisper of his power.
Who, then, can comprehend the thunder of his power?” – (Job 26:7-12,14)

“God alone understands the way to wisdom; he knows where it can be found, for he looks throughout the whole earth and sees everything under the heavens.
He decided how hard the winds should blow and how much rain should fall.
He made the laws for the rain and laid out a path for the lightning.
Then he saw wisdom and evaluated it thoroughly.
And this is what he says to all humanity:
‘The fear of the Lord is true wisdom; to forsake evil is real understanding.’” – (Job 28:23-28)

“Look, God is all-powerful. Who is a teacher like him?
No one can tell him what to do, or say to him, ‘You have done wrong.’
Instead, glorify his mighty works, singing songs of praise…
Look, God is greater than we can understand. His years cannot be counted.” – (Job 36:22-24,26)

God is greater than we can understand. Perhaps today the best thing to do is simply rest in the wisdom of God, submitting ourselves to His greatness and His authority in our lives. Perhaps today is not the day to try to understand, but instead try to trust.

There was once a man named Job who lived in the land of Uz. He was blameless – a man of complete integrity. He feared God and stayed away from evil (Job 1:1). This book starts out very much like a fairytale. We all know the story. Job was a righteous man who had been blessed abundantly by God. He had a large family, lots of servants and lots of animals. He was, in fact, the richest person in that entire area (1:3).

The higher you go the harder you fall. This saying would have rung true for Job. He lost it all when Satan challenged God regarding the faithfulness of Job. God allowed Satan to test Job by taking away his possessions and then by causing him physical pain through terrible boils from his head to foot. Job’s response shows the strength of his faith as he continued to praise God.

“I came naked from my mother’s womb, and I will be naked when I leave.
The Lord gave me what I had, and the Lord has taken it away.
Praise the name of the Lord!” – (1:21)

When his wife nagged him, encouraging him to curse God and die, Job’s response was one that I could learn a lot from: “You talk like a foolish woman. Should we accept only good things from the hand of God and never anything bad?” – (2:10)

By reading through the book of Job, it is clear that Job is having a difficult time. He feels the pain and suffers from the loss just like anyone else would. He is surrounded by “friends” who are trying to give him advice through this time of suffering but seem to only be saying the wrong things. We’ve probably all been there – either we have been the one going through a hard time and had well-meaning friends say something that makes the pain worse OR we’ve been the one who has tried to comfort a friend only to end up saying the last thing they wanted to hear.

Job’s friends assume that Job is being punished for something and needs to repent in order for the hard times to end. Perhaps Job’s friends are slightly enjoying the fact that Job isn’t perfect – that something is finally going wrong for him. Jealousy is a powerful thing, even among friends, and it’s possible that the words of self-righteousness coming from Job’s friends are a result of past envy or attempts to measure up to Job.

Job’s friend, Bildad, makes a mistake commonly made today. He assumes that blessings that can be measured in earthly ways come to the righteous and the wicked can never prosper here on earth. “But if you pray to God and seek the favor of the Almighty, and if you are pure and live with integrity, he will surely rise up and restore your happy home. And though you started with little, you will end with much” (8:5-6).

Oh the prosperity gospel! We’ve all heard it and probably believed it to some degree. But, the fact remains that there are some incredibly righteous, godly Christians who live and die “dirt poor” in earthly terms. And there are some very ungodly, unbelieving, downright wicked people who have everything they could possibly ask for in regard to their position and possessions. This is not easy to understand but our response to what seems unfair in life should be to simply trust God and, as Job did, look forward to our heavenly rewards instead of measuring our earthly possessions.

“But as for me, I know that my Redeemer lives, and he will stand upon the earth at last.
And after my body has decayed, yet in my body I will see God!
I will see him for myself.
Yes, I will see him with my own eyes.
I am overwhelmed at the thought!” – (Job 19:25-27)

As with most fairytales, although this one is nonfiction, Job’s story has a happy ending. God steps in healing Job physically and restoring him with earthly possessions even greater than what he once had. And the great news for us today is that our story has a happy ending also! No matter what our current circumstances are, no matter how much we are suffering today, Jesus has gone to prepare a place for us in heaven where there will be no more sorrow, no more pain, no more loss. In the words of Job, “Praise the name of the Lord!” In the words of David:

I give you all the credit, GOD—
you got me out of that mess, you didn’t let my foes gloat.
GOD, my God, I yelled for help and you put me together.
GOD, you pulled me out of the grave,
gave me another chance at life when I was down-and-out.

You did it: you changed wild lament into whirling dance;
You ripped off my black mourning band and decked me with wildflowers.
I’m about to burst with song; I can’t keep quiet about you.
GOD, my God, I can’t thank you enough. (Psalm 30, The Message)

Today is a day of remembrance – a day we choose to never forget! January 22nd marks a time in the history of America when abortion was legalized. Women were given the freedom to end their pregnancies and those who were alive but not yet born were stripped of their right to life. The motives behind the legalization of abortion were not just about reproductive freedom, their motives included racial targeting. Still today the majority of abortion clinics are found in neighborhoods primarily made up of African-American and Hispanic families.

The book of Esther speaks of a similar day of remembrance in the lives of the Jewish people – the Festival of Purim. Just like there has been an attack on the unborn for the past 41 years, with evidence the attack is racially motivated, an attack was planned against the Jewish people living in the empire of King Xerxes because of similar racial hatred.

While a large number of God’s people had returned to Judah and Jerusalem to rebuild the Temple and the walls of the city, there were still a great number of Jews who had remained in what had once been Babylon. It is not explained why these Jews chose to not return to the Promised Land. Perhaps they had become comfortable in their new homes and chose to stay in the “known” instead of traveling the long distance back to the “unknown”.

We are probably all familiar with the story of Esther and the conspiracy of Haman to destroy all of the Jews in order to curb his appetite for the death of Esther’s cousin, Mordecai. Haman managed to convince the king that it was not in his best interest to let this race of people live. Lots were cast to determine the day in while the Jews could be annihilated. These lots were called “purim” and were similar to what we would think of as dice. This is where the Festival of Purim received its name – a time to remember when a day was set to destroy the Jews but to also celebrate how God instead rescued His people from their enemies.

I found several similarities between Esther’s role and Nehemiah’s role. Nehemiah was an exiled Jew living as a servant or slave to the king. His role as cupbearer became a blessing as Nehemiah was strategically positioned to be near the King to request a favor for his people. In the same way, the misfortune of Esther to be taken from her home and placed in the palace had become a blessing as she became queen and was strategically positioned to be near the King, giving her the opportunity to request protection for her people.

God intervened on Nehemiah’s behalf and the king noticed that he was distraught. God intervened on Esther’s behalf and the king noticed her standing in the inner court and he welcomed her and held out the gold scepter to her so that she could approach his throne.

Nehemiah saw a need, prayed for the need and then allowed himself to be part of the answer to that prayer. He allowed himself to be used by God. Esther saw a need, feared for her life and yet boldly stepped into the equation, allowing herself to become part of the solution.

Mordecai sent this reply to Esther: “Don’t think for a moment that because you’re in the palace you will escape when all other Jews are killed. If you keep quiet at a time like this, deliverance and relief for the Jews will arise from some other place, but you and your relatives will die. Who knows if perhaps you were made the queen for just such a time as this?”

Then Esther set this reply to Mordecai: “Go and gather together all the Jews of Susa and fast for me. Do not eat or drink for three days, night or day. My maids and I will do the same. And then, though it is against the law, I will go in and see the king. If I must die, I must die.” – Esther 4:13-16

This, too, reminds me of Nehemiah. When faced with opposition while rebuilding the walls of Jerusalem in order to protect God’s people, Nehemiah appointed half of the men to work on the wall while half stood armed with swords against the attack. For some laborers, they used one hand to support the load while the other hand held a weapon.

In the same way, God’s people lifted prayers on behalf of Esther while she worked on protecting or rescuing them. She put herself in harm’s way but not until she knew that her family and God’s people were lifting her up in prayer, calling on God to bless her efforts and use the position He had placed her in as an opportunity to reverse the decree and allow the Jewish people to live.

There are days and opportunities when God strategically positions us to be used by Him. There are also times in which God gives us the responsibility to pray for someone else. There may be times in which we feel sorry for ourselves wishing that we were not in a situation or place. Then what once seemed like an unfortunate coincidence becomes a God-placed miracle and we find ourselves strategically positioned to be used by Him.

Then what? Will we see our situation today as Esther did? Will we accept our calling “for such a time as this”? Perhaps our role today is to enter into the presence of our King, as Esther did. Perhaps it is our role today to stand with sword in hand and pray God’s protection on others. Perhaps God is calling you to do something about the issue of abortion. Either way, today is a special day. It is a day to remember that God has called us as His servants to be used however He desires. It is a day to be called into action. It is a day to remember and never forget!