Blessed be the Name of the Lord (Lent Devotion) - Tuesday, March 19
Blessed be the Name of the Lord
The Lord gave and the Lord has taken away. Blessed be the name of the Lord. (Job 1:20-21)
Disasters happen. If Satan had his way, he would take every good thing away from you, just as he did to Job. In one day, Job and his wife lost their seven sons and three daughters. Like Job, you have three choices when something devastating happens. You can let it destroy you, define you, or develop you.
You can turn to things that slowly but surely destroy you. Satan is your enemy, but He will try to make you think he is your friend. He would take everything from you if he could. But he is limited; God allows him to go so far and no further.
Satan tempts people in order to trap them into all types of addictions. Addiction to drugs, alcohol, sexual immorality, greed, pride, arrogance, murder, gossip, slander, ridicule - all items Satan uses in order to destroy you. These addictions destroy relationships with those in your life but, more importantly, they destroy your relationship with God.
You can, also, let disaster define you. You can play the victim card. Pity me because of the disaster I have had to endure. It's not my fault! Excuses are simply a mistrust of God and a rejection of His healing power. You have told the world, God can't fix me - He's not that powerful.
Finally, you can let disasters develop you. Even the worst things in life have the ability to strengthen your trust in God through the act of surrender. In this way, Satan does the work and will of God by driving us to place our hope in Creator God, not worldly people and things.
That’s what Job did. “At this, Job got up and tore his robe and shaved his head. Then he fell to the ground in worship and said: ‘Naked I came from my mother’s womb, and naked I will depart. The Lord gave and the Lord has taken away. Blessed be the name of the Lord.” (Job 1:20-21)
Jesus knew this all too well as he was stripped and hung on a cross. His life was taken from him and then restored, as he rose victoriously. He offers you the same promise of life everlasting by trusting in him as your Lord and Savior.
Dear Creator God, when disaster happens, I ask that your Spirit would move me to redouble my trust in you and be assured of your love and mercy. In Jesus' name, I pray. Amen.