What's the Point?

Job 2:1-13
Acts 9:1-9
John 6:27-40
What pain we encounter as human beings! Even those who worship God face times of loss, sickness, hunger, doubt, fear, anger, blindness (spiritual and physical), and so forth. God seems almost callous in allowing Ha Satan (the Advocate) to torment Job (Job 2). Saul, who was raised to be a faithful (and zealous) Jew. This led him to believe that Christians were heretics deserving of punishment. Yet on his way to Damascus Saul was confronted by the risen Lord and sent into a period of blindness and confusion. If those who seek to be faithful, who even God calls blameless (Job 2:3), can suffer, what’s the point?

The point may be that life by its very nature brings times of trial, and at those times we are best served by trusting in God’s providence and grace to bring us through to a place of peace and contentment. As Job says, “Shall we not receive the good at the hand of God, and not receive the bad?” (Job 2:10) In other words, can God not be trusted throughout our lives, in good times as well as bad times? John Newton testifies to this same sentiment in his hymn “Amazing Grace.”

Through many dangers, toils, and snares
I have already come.
‘Twas grace that brought be safe thus far,
And grace will lead me home.

“I am the bread of life,” says Jesus (John 6:35). And as such Jesus is the source of grace and fulfillment we need throughout our lives, in good times or bad.

Prayer: Lord, we do not always understand what you are about, but help us to trust you and to rely on your deliverance. In Jesus’ name. Amen.