I know that you can do all things; no purpose of yours can be thwarted. Job 42:2. 

The Lord is good, a refuge in times of trouble. He cares for those who trust in him. Nahum 1:7.

We come to the end of the Book of Job, Job 42. I can’t help but think that Job was recorded for all of us – believers in God and those who don’t believe. A wake-up call to look inward and question how do I see God? You said, “Listen now, and I will speak; I will question you, and you shall answer me.” My ears had heard of you but now my eyes have seen you. Therefore I despise myself and repent in dust and ashes. v. 4, 5, 6. God told Job’s friends He was angry with them because they didn’t speak the truth about Him…and then they were to sacrifice a burnt offering to God for themselves; and Job would pray for them and they would be restored. v. 7-10. 

How can we see God if we don’t trust Him? No purpose of God’s can be thwarted. The true light that gives light to everyone was coming into the world. He was in the world, and though the world was made through him, the world did not recognize him. He came to that which was his own, but his own did not receive him. Yet to all who did receive him, to those who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God – children born not of natural descent, nor of human decision or a husband’s will, but born of God. Out of his fullness we have all received grace in place of grace already given. For the law was given through Moses; grace and truth came through Jesus Christ. No one has ever seen God, but the one and only Son, who is himself God and is in closest relationship with the Father, has made him known. John 1:9-13, 16-18. He made Himself known to Job and his friends.

Do we speak the truth about God? How can we know? We go to the source of all truth. We ask. We pray for His help to understand and we begin to see that His way makes sense. How do you see God? Limited? Distant? Not real? Start there. Be honest with God and with yourself. The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom, and knowledge of the Holy One is understanding. Proverbs 9:10. Understanding. A beautiful word made more full as it applies to our growing relationship with our Creator God – Father, Son, Spirit. Job loved God and thought he knew God. Job’s friends thought they knew God. Each one was surprised by what they didn’t comprehend. What God is helping me with, in my walk with Him, is that I can trust Him for all things. It didn’t happen overnight. Trusting God doesn’t remove the questions or the reality of so much suffering in this world. Why not? Because the world does not choose God. Knowledge of the Holy One and His love for us brings peace this world cannot understand or provide. That’s okay. It was never meant to. This world and the suffering it encompasses shows us what God is not. You can stay mired in what is not God’s love and purpose for us. When you want more remember who the Holy One is. He’s here. Always.