Redemption Road: When God Restores What You Lost (Part 2)Sample

Job: God, Do You Hear Me?

So far, we have looked at the stories of Joseph and Ruth. Both remind us that God is no respecter of persons, and despite our circumstances, He is committed to making us whole again. It does not matter if you are male, female, Black, White, rich, poor, someone who had a great start and got side-tracked, or someone from humble beginnings who feels like they are playing catch-up. God has an incredible plan to make you whole.

To wrap up our series, let’s look at Job, a man who is commonly considered the posterchild of redemption and restoration.

You may have heard his story. He is the man who lost everything and almost everyone in a relatively short period of time. His losses came not because of any wrongdoing but because he was blameless before God (Job 1:1). You might remember that we covered this point in part one of this series—you can suffer challenges and still be favored by God. It is an uncomfortable truth that should free some of us from the burden of regret and self-blame.

Perhaps you can relate. You, too, were just going through life, doing all the right things, and suddenly tragedy struck, the economy tanked, your industry pivoted, or someone you trusted did something disloyal. In those seasons, anger, disappointment, resentment, and even bitterness are understandable. If any of those emotions sound familiar, you are not alone.

Most of the book of Job describes an honest exchange between an angry man, having a raw and human experience, and the sovereign God to whom he had devoted his life. As Job expresses his disappointment, grief, and hopelessness, he's met with the same grace that God offers you and me today.

As we wrap up our series over the next two days, there are three lessons we can learn from Job's life.

#1 - God is Attentive to Our Cries
For three chapters, God listens as Job expresses his grievances. He is transparent about his frustration with God, he sounds depressed and suicidal, and he does not understand why, although God favors him, his circumstances feel like punishment.

Now, you may be extraordinarily patient, but if I am honest, one that always reminds me of my humanity is that I get impatient and defensive when someone goes on a rant about their frustrations with me. As we look at God’s response to Job, it is important to emphasize that God simply listened—for several chapters, there are no interruptions, and no dismissiveness, just a gracious Father listening to His child.

Be encouraged that through your difficult season, God is also listening. He is not ignoring the pain, He is not belittling your anger, and He is certainly not ignoring you. In His omnipresence, He is listening.

Tomorrow we will look at the final two lessons from Job's life.

Prayer:
Father, I thank you for the completed work of Jesus Christ, and that it gives me direct access to hear and know you. You know that the journey has not been easy, but I trust your word in Jeremiah 29:11, that your plans for me are good, and that you will bring me to an unexpected end. I pray for your grace to forgive those who have hurt me, and for the strength to share your healing and redemptive grace in my life. Help me to recognize where the enemy wants me to remain a hostage of the past, so that I can walk in the authority and freedom you have given me.