The Fight is in the Wait
Job is struggling big time. By the 6th chapter, he's lost all his kids, his livelihood, and his good reputation. On top of that he's gotten a very painful skin disease, and on top of that, his friends are convinced that he has done something terrible to earn the wrath of God. None of them realized at this point that God was simply testing Job's faithfulness and growing his faith in the process.
So, we can safely say that Job's world is falling apart. He's sorrowful, he's broken, and he wishes he were dead. And now he has to hear about how sinful he is from people who are supposed to be his closest friends. Sometimes the people we need to encourage and support us are the ones kicking us when we're already down. They may say, "If you hadn't done this, then that wouldn't have...", or they may say "well you're just going to have to deal with that, I can't help you," or they may simply just say, "get over it."
The truth of the matter is, yes, there are times when you will just have to get over a situation and move on. Yes, you will make mistakes and poor choices and have to deal with the consequences. You will definitely have to handle some things by yourself without the help of others. But in Job's case, where does that fit? How is that an appropriate approach to his situation? How do you "get over" losing all your family and resources for living? And then getting painfully ill on top of it? What heinous act could Job have committed to deserve such pain? He lost his family, and his friends were absolutely clueless as to what God was doing in his life. Of course Job was depressed.
How do you "get over it" when someone close to you passes away? How do you move past losing your job, can't find a new one, and the one you find barely keeps food on your table during the week? How much repenting are you supposed to do when you are doing everything right?
Well, there's simply no answer except that you need to WAIT! Wait on the Lord for a renewal of your strength (Isaiah 40:31, KJV). Wait, for your trials to work patience and your patience to work experience, and your experience to work hope (Romans 5:3-4). Hope? What does that have to do with anything? Hmmm... well, according to Hebrews 11:1, FAITH is the substance of things HOPED for, and the evidence of things not seen. So? What does faith have to do with anything? Well, without FAITH, it's impossible to please God (Hebrews 11:6)! So, if you can't be patient, you can't have hope. And if you can't have hope, you can't have faith. And if you can't have faith, you can't please God. Got it? Good.
So, let's go back to Job. Here he is, tired, sad, hurting, and feeling beat up on by God and everybody else. And he wants to know where he's supposed to get the strength to hope, and what he's supposed to look forward to, to be patient. Well, we already know the answer: He has to WAIT! YOU have to WAIT! Wait on the Lord, be of good courage, and He will strengthen your heart (Psalm 27:14). So, in order to please God, you have to wait on God. So, by allowing you to go through trials, He's actually giving you an opportunity to INCREASE your blessings, INCREASE your authority, INCREASE your potential. Because, you know, by faith you can do ANYTHING!
And while you're waiting, work. Pray, and speak the thing that you're praying for into existence. I WILL be successful. I WILL receive all the blessings the Lord promised me. I WILL be victorious, and I WILL give God ALL the glory! I WILL NOT be afraid. I WILL be strong and courageous, and I WILL NOT FAIL! God is the source of my strength, and the strength of my life. God is my rescue, and my present help in trouble. So I WILL WAIT!!
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