Week 1: after this

The rich man Job is famous for the many life-altering disasters that Satan brought against him. His ten children were all killed in a freak windstorm. He lost his huge flocks and herds of cattle, facing financial ruin. His body was covered with blistering sores from hair to heel. His entire life crumbled, and the pathetic picture is of a devastated old man sitting alone in sackcloth and ashes — a symbol of extreme grief. His “friends” blamed his troubles on his sin. Even his wife encouraged him to “curse God and die” (Job 2:9).

Perhaps that sounds to you like your life. One disaster after the other. Every day another problem to solve. Too many bills with too little income. Breast cancer or another debilitating disease. Overwhelming stress. And being single, you have no one to share the load.

The voices in your head say, Don’t go today. Just stay home and lick your wounds. Watch TV and eat bonbons. Feel sorry for yourself.

Don’t listen! Stop sitting on the sidelines. Get up and go anyway. Say, Yes, I’m hurting, but I’m still in the game. I won’t give up. Defy the odds. Shock your friends and the enemy by showing up in spite of your struggles.

Give God praise! Focus on what’s coming “after this” — after the divorce or break-up, after the death, after the job loss, after the cancer.

After all this happened to Job, he remained faithful to God, and he lived 140 years. God blessed him with twice as much as he’d had before the disasters — children, flocks and herds, wealth… and joy.

I wonder what God has in store for you “after this”? Hang in there — you don’t want to miss it!

— MARY HOLLINGSWORTH

Prayer: Father, I praise your glorious name! And I trust you with my life and my future after this.

 

Excerpt from Fulfilled: The NIV Devotional Bible for the Single Woman. Learn more about it at Zondervan.com.

Leave a comment

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *