And he said: “Naked I came from my mother’s womb, and naked shall i return there. The Lord gave, and the Lord has taken away; blessed be the name of the Lord.” In all this Job did not sin nor charge God with wrong. (Job 1:21-22)
These Scriptures appear early on in Job’s story of loosing everything (property and children) and just before satan attacked his health. The insight we gain from this is that Job remained vigilant in his worship of God and not blame God for what was happening in his life. Though his days at this point were filled with pain and heartache, he did not accuse God of being wrong to allow these things to happen to him. He understood that when he came into this world he had nothing, and when he leaves, or exits, this world, he will take nothing with him. He acknowledged the sovereignty of god, that He is the giver of everything good in our lives.
We, too, should have this mindset like job. We did not come into this world with anything and will not take anything with us when we leave this world. Everything we have been able to obtain in this life, god has provided – material things, opportunities, statuses, family, etc. And let’s face it, we all have experienced and may be experiencing now hard times and days that literally drives us to our knees. We experience gain and loss throughout our days, and they don’t always feel good. But in the midst of it all, God is still good, and he should still be praised for his goodness! We should continuously give thanks for the life we have and for the knowledge that all good and perfect gifts come from Him, they come from above (James 1:17). And yes, this will be difficult on the really hard days when there is no explanation as to why what is happening is happening and why the pain seems to last so long. Just like Job we acknowledge that God gives and takes away in His sovereignty. He is still worthy though of our thanksgiving and gratitude because His goodness is better than life. We have been given so much, and this makes us grateful people. As believers we should ask God to help us believe that His purpose and plans for our lives are good (Jeremiah 29:11) even on the really hard days.
Scripture References: Job 1:21,22; james 1:17; Jeremiah 29:11; 1 thessalonians 5:16-18; Psalm 136:1; Psalm 30:1-12; Psalm 28:6,7
reflective jounal prompts
Take this time to reflect and journal using the following prompt questions. use this time for introspection and communion with god. feel free to leave a comment on the post, but also, use your own journal to go deeper and to capture your thoughts on what has been shared.
Q: From the story of Job, what insights or revelations have you gained that has shaped your view of God and His goodness?
Q: From your own story and journey, how has your first-hand experiences with God shaped your attitude of gratitude? What life lessons and truth have you learned that you are living out right now?
Q: What does being grateful and thankful to God look like in your life?
