When we’re going through a difficult patch in our lives, we try to manage the outcome ourselves. We look at how we can choose a different direction – how we react to a change in our health – or a challenge that seems insurmountable. You would think that by going through so many different roadblocks and detours, we are being crushed along the way, How do we move forward, when we know we may not live to see what’s next? How do we push forward, when it seems that there is no reason to fight anymore? How do we overcome those obstacles without losing our minds, crying ourselves to sleep or giving up?

The Bible is filled with stories like those mentioned above. The tale of Job and his battle with life and death situations is meant to give us an example of how to turn our cares over to God. This guy had everything a man could want. He had a large family, a good wife, material things, land, cattle, money. He continued to serve God throughout his life, but then things started to go sour. He lost everything all at once. No more kids, no land, no cattle, no money and he was sick to top it off. Certainly God doesn’t want us to go through trials. He intended for our lives to be perfect. He is not responsible for our troubles. Those were created a long time ago in a beautiful garden called Eden. Through all his trials, Job listened to his friends spout off reasons for the pain he was going through. They even suggested that he had done something to displease God. Through it all, Job remained faithful to God, but more importantly, God remained with him through it all. He never left Job. He continued to send His angels to minister to him. After the testing was over, Job was restored beyond what he had before. All the pieces were falling into place.

Our earthly troubles may seem meaningless compared to Job’s, but are they? We struggle through a lifetime of ups and downs. Our hearts break. Our bodies grow weary with age. Our minds become clouded with too much information. We get sick. We face death. Yet through it all, God is there. He is with us always. That is comfort we can count on, even when it all seems hopeless. He never changes, in spite of all the changes we encounter. He remains faithful, constant, ever present, eternal and loving. All we need do is turn to Him for answers. He has our lives in His hands. He will never let us go.