The Perseverance Of Job - Job 2:10

 But he said to her, “You speak as one of the foolish women would speak. Shall we receive good from God, and shall we not receive evil?” In all this Job did not sin with his lips. - Job 2:10

    With the Corona virus still slithering among us and the anarchy that seems unabated in our streets there are many who defy God and apparently enjoy mocking Him to our Christian faces. “Where’s your God now?’ They laughingly ask. It’s a big joke to them on the surface but deep beneath all the scornful derision of their blackened hearts, there is a pertinent question that needs answering. Where, in fact, is God when everything seems as bad as it can get? The real question is, what should our response be in the face of tribulation? “Blessed is the man who remains steadfast under trial, for when he has stood the test he will receive the crown of life, which God has promised to those who love him.” - James 1:12.
    We would all of course prefer to have all blessings that God provides for us and none of the troubles. That simply isn’t the reality in a fallen world. Ever since the downfall of man, there has been a downside to life on earth. Think of birth: When a Godly woman conceives in her body, she rejoices at the thought of her child’s birth. She celebrates the life living within her. Yet when birth comes, it brings with it the pains that God assured Eve that she would have. “To the woman he said, ‘I will surely multiply your pain in childbearing; in pain you shall bring forth children. Your desire shall be contrary to your husband, but he shall rule over you.’” - Genesis 3:16. First pain, then glory. Isn’t this what God has said all along? “Is it not from the mouth of the Most High that good and bad come?” - Lamentations 3:38.
    Even King Solomon knew of the dichotomy of good and bad as a staple of life on earth.
“For everything there is a season, and a time for every matter under heaven: . . . a time to weep, and a time to laugh; a time to mourn, and a time to dance . . . .” - Ecclesiastes 1:1,4. The key to contentedness in any and every trial is to adopt the attitude of Job during times of affliction.
    Solomon went on to declare - “In the day of prosperity be joyful, and in the day of adversity consider: God has made the one as well as the other, so that man may not find out anything that will be after him.” - Ecclesiastes 7:14. God has indeed made both the days of prosperity and the days of adversity. And He delivers them at His own bidding so as not to reveal His plans for us. Think about it: were God to reveal all His plans to each of us, why would we need Him afterward? We would already know our futures. And I dare say that many of us would not relish what lies in store for us.
    No, what happens in our lives happens for reasons known only to God. As for our response to adversity? “Not only that, but we rejoice in our sufferings, knowing that suffering produces endurance, and endurance produces character, and character produces hope, and hope does not put us to shame, because God's love has been poured into our hearts through the Holy Spirit who has been given to us.” - Romans 3:3-5. We are given Godly commands to carry out in times of tribulation and pain, no matter what the circumstances may be. “Rejoice in hope, be patient in tribulation, be constant in prayer.” - Romans 12:12. God is certainly not finished with us, regardless of our current circumstances - “And I am sure of this, that he who began a good work in you will bring it to completion at the day of Jesus Christ.” - Philippians 1:6.
    If we cannot adapt to both the joys and sorrows as they are meted out in God’s sovereign plans how are we to ever persevere to the end and to the crown that awaits us? “Do not fear what you are about to suffer. Behold, the devil is about to throw some of you into prison, that you may be tested, and for ten days you will have tribulation. Be faithful unto death, and I will give you the crown of life.” - Revelation 2:10. No matter what the world throws at us, if we remain faithful we will indeed receive the crown of life promised to us by Christ Jesus! Let us always remember the final days of Job. “And the Lord restored the fortunes of Job, when he had prayed for his friends. And the Lord gave Job twice as much as he had before. . . . And Job died, an old man, and full of days.” - Job 42:10,17. Job’s faith in God provided him with greater days and a long life. Let our faith provide for us as well.