Better Days are Coming

Most of us know the story of Job who was tested and lost all that he had. Job was an upright man before God and he was the greatest among his people in terms of wealth. God allowed Satan to test Job, because Satan suggested that Job was faithful to God because of how much God had blessed him. “But stretch out your hand and touch all that he has, and he will curse you to your face” (Job 1:11). God called Satan’s bluff and gave him permission to touch everything that Job had, but he was not allowed to touch Job.

We are not sure how long Job’s suffering lasted but we know that he lost his children, his property and livestock. We are unsure about what happened with his wife, but the bible says that she encouraged him to curse God and die. Satan also touched Job’s health and he was afflicted with sores all over his body. In all of this, Job did not sin against God. Job’s friends sat with him in silence for seven days and grieved with Job. Job spoke with regret about the day that he was born. When his friends did speak, their words were laced with condemnation and some judgment.

In the end God spoke with Job and responded to some of Job’s lamentations. Job repented before God and admitted that he didn’t know enough about life and creation. God also scolded Job’s friends for chastising him. “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” (Job 42:10). I notice that Job was restored after he prayed for his friends, which meant that he needed to extend forgiveness to them. Even friends can act out of character during seasons of difficulty, but it is important to forgive if we want to be restored.

Job received double for his faithfulness in enduring the challenges that had come upon him. God was pleased to not only restore what Job had before, but to double it because he maintained his faith in God. Many of you have remained faithful under trials and persecution. God will restore what was lost and he will add a lot more than you had before. Maintain an excellent spirit and pray for the friends who were unfaithful when you were being tested. Keep a good heart, forgive and wait with expectancy for a double portion. “Though thy beginning was small, Yet thy latter end should greatly increase” (Job‬ ‭8‬:‭7‬).

A.P.-Y.