Today's Devotional
February 14, 2006
Subject: The Fear To Faith Cycle: The Valley Continues
Job 1:14-19 - "And there came a messenger unto Job, and said, The oxen were plowing, and the asses feeding beside them: And the Sabeans fell upon them, and took them away; yea, they have slain the servants with the edge of the sword; and I only am escaped alone to tell thee. While he was yet speaking, there came also another, and said, The fire of God is fallen from heaven, and hath burned up the sheep, and the servants, and consumed them; and I only am escaped alone to tell thee. While he was yet speaking, there came also another, and said, The Chaldeans made out three bands, and fell upon the camels, and have carried them away, yea, and slain the servants with the edge of the sword; and I only am escaped alone to tell thee. While he was yet speaking, there came also another, and said, Thy sons and thy daughters were eating and drinking wine in their eldest brother's house: And, behold, there came a great wind from the wilderness, and smote the four corners of the house, and it fell upon the young men, and they are dead; and I only am escaped alone to tell thee."
Job 2:5-7 - "But put forth thine hand now, and touch his bone and his flesh, and he will curse thee to thy face.
And the LORD said unto Satan, Behold, he is in thine hand; but save his life.
So went Satan forth from the presence of the LORD, and smote Job with sore boils from the sole of his foot unto his crown.."
Because we're real Christians and we know how we "should" respond, we're really good sometimes at handling that initial reaction of praising God when the trial, heartache or hardship occurs. Often times we handle it so well because we really do believe that it will be short-lived. However, when we find out that this temporary issue has some permanence or is going to be with us for a little while, we can get a little discouraged.
Job was plunged into the valley of despair with news of the loss of his animals and death of his servants. While that news was still being delivered, there was more bad news; the sheep and more servants had been destroyed. Just about the time Job had digested the new information, there was more bad news. Job lost more servants and his camels. Then there was the ultimate, fateful family news. Job had lost his sons and daughters to a great wind. Now if you recall, it was after this that Job demonstrated his first reaction; to worship God.
We often pray that our valley experiences will be short-lived. However, like Job, sometimes when we think we've stood through the worst of it, the valley goes on and on. The passages above from Job 2 tell how. After all that Job had been through, his body was then attacked by sores and boils everywhere. Yes, for Job it wasn't over, and neither is it for you and me just because we praise God. For God to take us from our feelings of fear to our ultimate trust and reliance on Him, it takes a valley.
Today, perhaps you've been plunged into the valley of despair and maybe you're still trusting God. That's a good thing, but be ready for your next step because the valley can be long, but He is always there leading us beside the still water.
Carlen
