SCRIPTURE
“Though he slay me, yet will I hope in him…” Job 13:15a
SPOTLIGHT
The word “crisis” and the word “choices” cannot be separated. When facing any crisis in life, you have to make choices. The book of Job is the classic illustration of this truth.
Job is the main character. He is a man who is right with God. He has a close personal relationship with his Creator. In addition, God greatly blessed him in all the aspects of his life. However, Job also faced a series of crises that posed the threat of shaking his worship of and love for God.
Satan caused him great suffering. Job lost his family, business, wealth, and health. His wife told him to curse God because these things had happened to him. She claimed God had not protected him from them. Job replied by making one of the greatest commitments ever made by a man. He said “…even if He killed me, I’d keep on hoping…” [Message].
What would you have done? When facing a crisis, you have to choose between:
God’s ways or my ways.
Faith or fear,
A God who is all powerful, all wise or a god who is not alive,
Becoming better or bitter,
Comfort or sorrow,
Belief or unbelief.
You cannot escape making these choices. Everyone has to choose what he/she will do when facing a crisis. You are being hammered. Your emotions begin to interpret life’s events. You have to choose if you will see life through the emotional lens or the Godly lens.
Faith is a choice. Of all the choices you have, the best one is to choose like Job did. Choose to trust God no matter what the crisis. God’s Word declares, “A righteous man may have many troubles, but the Lord delivers him from them all.” [Psalm 34:19]. God promises in Isaiah 43:1 “When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; and when you pass through the rivers, they will not sweep over you. When you walk through the fire, you will not be burned; the flames will not set you ablaze.” The apostle Paul writes in 2 Corinthians 12:9 that the Lord said to him, “My grace is sufficient for you, for My power is made perfect in weakness.”
You can take these promissory notes to the bank of heaven and cash them in. You will receive exactly what they promise. Choose God. Choose God’s promises!
People who go through crisis well know that God keeps His promises and that something good will happen following the crisis. David testified to this when he prayed in Psalm 31:5, “Into your hands I commit my spirit; redeem me, O Lord, the God of truth.” More importantly, your Savior and Lord, Jesus Christ, prayed this on the cross as He was dying for your sin and salvation. As He faced the crisis of the cross, Jesus Christ committed Himself to God the Father and as a result provided salvation for anyone who would believe on Him. When facing crisis, Jesus Christ, the Son of God, chose to trust His Heavenly Father.
When facing a crisis, you have to choose. Choose well. Choose like the Son of God.
SOMETHING TO DO
If you were facing a crisis, pray like Job. Then pray like Jesus Christ.
If you know of someone who is going through a crisis, pray he/she would come to the same realization as Job did.
If you know of someone who is going through a crisis, call him/her to give encouragement and prayer.
SOUL TIME PRAYER
Heavenly Father, I trust You with my life just as Job did. I commit my life into Your hands just as my Savior and Lord did. I choose You when facing a crisis! AMEN!