“In the land of Uz there lived a man whose name was Job. This man was blameless and upright: he feared God and shunned evil.” Job 1:1 (NIV)
Like many of us, Job loved God. And, Satan wanted to destroy his faith in God by destroying Job. That is like us too. Satan desires that we live in fear and anxiety, especially in times of uncertainty and crisis, even chronic pain. When we live like this, we are creating opportunities for the world’s perspective and Satan to influence us against the One we love.
In the book of Job, we learn Satan went before God after going back and forth through the world. God mentions Job to Satan, that Job is blameless and upright and loves God. Satan, in so many words, asks God to let him test Job because Job has prospered without much conflict and temptation. Job 1:7-11
In our present day, we are also tempted and prowled upon by Satan. He desires the same for us as he did for Job…to turn us away from our God, to create anxiety and fear in us, and change our focus to ourselves.
I Peter 5:8 (NIV) “Be alert and of sober mind. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour.”
Job remained steadfast through all the tests Satan put him through. He lost his worldly possessions, his family, and his health for a time. His friends wanted him to blame God. But he still chose God.
Job 27:3-4 (NIV) “As long as I have life within me, the breath of God in my nostrils, my lips will not speak wickedness, and my tongue will utter no deceit”.
Think about this…!
Listen to God…He is with you in the midst of everything.
I Peter 5:7 (NIV)
“Cast all your anxiety on him because He cares for you.”