Zambia Hunt

Job 1:1-23

I remember sitting in the living room of Agnes, a member of the church I pastored, as she wrestled with questions that seemed to have no answers. Her business had failed, her husband had abandoned her for another woman, and her health was deteriorating. “If God loves me,” she asked through tears, “why is this happening?” Her raw honesty echoed a question that has reverberated through human hearts for millennia – the same question at the heart of one of Scripture’s most profound narratives: the Book of Job.

The Man Behind the Story

Before Job became synonymous with suffering, he was known for something else entirely: his character. The Bible describes him as “perfect and upright” (Job 1:1), but don’t let those lofty words intimidate you. This wasn’t about flawless perfection – it was about authentic, mature faith lived out in daily decisions.

Think of character as the person you are when no one’s watching. It’s like building a house – thought by thought, choice by choice, habit by habit. While reputation is the quick snapshot people take of our lives, character is the slow-developing photograph that reveals every detail. Job had spent years developing this kind of deep-rooted integrity.

What set Job apart wasn’t just his moral behavior – it was his relationship with God. He understood something many of us struggle to grasp: genuine fear of the Lord isn’t about cowering in terror. Instead, it’s a profound respect mixed with deep love, like a child who both adores and respects a good father. This wasn’t the uninformed fear that comes from ignorance, nor the superstitious fear that haunts the imagination. Job’s fear of God was rooted in knowing Him intimately.

This foundation influenced every aspect of his life. He didn’t just avoid evil – he actively shunned it. In today’s terms, this might look like carefully guarding what we allow into our minds (Philippians 4:8), being intentional about our media consumption, or making tough decisions about relationships that pull us away from God.

Finding Purpose in Pain

Then came the day when everything fell apart. In a series of devastating blows, Job lost his wealth, his children, and his health. In our modern world, it might look like losing your job, getting a devastating diagnosis, or watching a relationship crumble. The circumstances may differ, but the heart-wrenching questions remain the same.

What’s remarkable isn’t just that Job maintained his faith – it’s how he did it. When darkness fell, he didn’t pretend everything was fine. Instead, he demonstrated what authentic faith looks like in the crucible of suffering. “Though He slay me, yet will I trust Him,” he declared (Job 13:15). Later, he would affirm, “When He has tested me, I shall come forth as gold” (Job 23:10).

What Job didn’t know – and what we often can’t see in our own struggles – is that there was a bigger story unfolding. His suffering wasn’t random; it was part of a cosmic demonstration that God is worthy of worship simply because He is God, not because of what He gives us.

Here’s what we can learn from Job’s story:

1. God remains sovereign even when life feels out of control. Your circumstances haven’t escaped His notice or His authority.
2. Our adversary may accuse us, but through Christ, we stand faultless before God’s throne. There is no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus!
3. Even when Satan attacks, he can only go as far as God permits. Every trial that touches us has passed through the hands of our loving Father first.

Your Next Step

Perhaps you’re in your own season of suffering right now. Maybe, like my friend in her living room, you’re struggling to reconcile your faith with your circumstances. Here’s your invitation: instead of asking, “Why is this happening?” try asking, “Who am I becoming through this?”

Take a moment today to write down one area where you’re struggling. Then, like Job, make a conscious decision to worship – not because everything is fine, but because God is worthy regardless of your circumstances. Remember, you’re not just building character but participating in a testimony that echoes into eternity.

As Job proved, and countless believers throughout history have discovered, God is worthy of our worship not because of what He gives but because of who He is. In your darkest valley, will you choose to believe this truth?