There once was a man named Job who lived in the land of Uz. He was blameless – a man of complete integrity. He feared God and stayed away from evil. Job 1:1 NLT

“All right, you may test him,” the LORD said to Satan. “Do whatever you want with everything he possesses, but don’t harm him physically.” So Satan left the LORD’s presence. Job 1:12 NLT

This week we are looking at the story of Job. Our first verse tells us that Job was a good man who loved God and did good and not evil. Job had 10 children whom he loved very much, 7,000 sheep, 3,000 camels, 500 teams of oxen, 500 donkeys, and many servants. He was the richest person in the area because God had blessed him.

Satan came to God and said that Job only loved God because God had blessed him. Satan believed that if Job lost everything he had, then Job would curse God. Our second verse tells us that God permitted Satan to test Job, but Satan could not hurt Job’s body.

A messenger came to Job and told him all his oxen and donkeys had been stolen! Then another messenger told him fire burned up all his sheep and the shepherds. Another came to say that raiders stole all his camels. And finally, a messenger came to say that his children had died when the house they were in collapsed.

Job stood up and tore his robe in grief. Then he shaved his head and fell to the ground to worship. Job 1:20 Even though Job had lost everything, he did not curse God but chose to worship God for how wonderful God is.

The LORD gave me what I had, and the LORD has taken it away. Praise the name of the LORD! Job 1:21b Job continued to trust and praise God in his sadness and troubles.

When Job was still true to God, Satan again was able to test Job with painful sores, from head to foot. And even when Job’s wife told him to curse God and die, Job still hoped in his God. God might kill me, but I have no other hope. Job 13:15a

Through all the testing, grief, sorrow, confusion, and hurt, Job still remained faithful and true to God. Job knew that God was with him in his good times and in his bad times and in all of his times, through all of his life.

This week talk with your parents about Job’s story. Jesus tells us all, I have told you all this so that you may have peace in me. Here on earth you will have many trials and sorrows. But take heart, because I have overcome the world. John 16:33 We will have troubles here on earth, but we know that God and Jesus are with us always, helping us, comforting us, and loving us.

Blessings and faithfulness as you hope and trust in God and Jesus to be with you through all your troubles!