Declaring Hope in God’s Goodness
Scripture reading for August 14: Job 13:15-17 “Though He slay me, I will hope in Him; yet I will argue my ways to His face. This will be my salvation, that the godless shall not come before Him. Keep listening to my words, and let my declaration be in Your ears.”
2 Corinthians 4:16-18 “So we do not lose heart. Though our outer self is wasting away, our inner self is being renewed day by day. For this light momentary affliction is preparing for us an eternal weight of glory beyond all comparison, as we look not to the things that are seen but to the things that are unseen. For the things that are seen are transient, but the things that are unseen are eternal.”
True faith and trust in God is not based on what we can see in the natural realm. As Job went through this physical trial where he experienced severe affliction and accusations from family and friends, his anchor was in the goodness of God. Even though he did not understand why this affliction was happening to him, he refused to blame or curse God. He also refused to blame himself and repent for something he did not do just to please his friends. In fact, he declared his faith in God in the face of what was happening to him in the natural realm. He kept his confession of hope in God and prayed trusting that God would hear him.
In the New Testament, after the resurrection of Jesus Christ, the apostle Paul made a similar statement of hope in God in the midst of affliction and suffering. He encouraged himself and the Corinthian believers with a statement of faith in God’s goodness to work suffering and affliction for eternal good and glory. In order to truly grasp this, Paul explained that his focus was not on what was happening in the natural realm. Instead he focused on the unseen realities of God’s eternal purposes and power to work all things for good to those who love Him. He knew that the present afflictions and suffering were light and momentary, transient and passing away. He knew that God’s eternal promises were the ultimate reality and those who trusted in them would triumph by faith.
Prayer: Father God, thank You for the Holy Spirit to help me today to declare Your unseen realities which are eternal. Deliver me from fear and slavery to my senses and flesh. Even when my body is wasting away, I know You are working eternal glory for me. Amen.
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