Two Reaction Options

 

Recently there was a verse I ran across that I couldn’t take my eyes off of.

 

It’s found in Job, chapter 13.

 

Here we find Job is attempting to plead his case in the presence of his friends.

 

And in verse 3 we see the integrity of the great man of Job say, “As for me, I would speak directly to the Almighty. I want to argue my case with God Himself.”

 

He goes on to attack his friends whom he blames for smearing lies, and, “being worthless as quacks.” (verse 4)

 

Even in Job’s suffering, he understands the importance of keeping silent lest speaking incorrectly and looking foolish while doing so.

 

I love verse 11 that helps us to see with clarity just what kind of man this was. He says, “Doesn’t His majesty terrify you? Doesn’t your fear of Him overwhelm you?”

 

I often question this today.

 

It’s an important one to seek the answer to in our own lives, for sure.

 

But then we see in verse 15 a reaction we should take away from the life of the one who knew suffering and pain and discomfort and difficulty. 

 

Job says this, “God might kill me, but I have no other hope.”

 

I have no other hope.

 

He has left himself with no other options.

 

And neither should we.

 


Can this be our response in times of turmoil and distress?

“I have no other hope.”

• I have no hope in people.
• I have no hope in things.
• I have no hope in this world.

My only hope is in Jesus!

 

Immediately upon seeing this verse I remembered a wonderful place in scripture found in the Gospels.

 

John, chapter 6.

 

Many followers of Jesus had deserted Him.

 

Partly because the words Jesus was saying were far too difficult to understand, and partly because of their hardness of heart, they were much more difficult to accept.

 

Scripture tells us in verse 66 that, “many of His disciples turned away and deserted Him.”

 

Then Jesus turned to the 12 closest band of brothers and asked them the question my heart can barely even type out this morning, “Are you going to leave too?” (verse 67)

 

But it was Simon Peter who replied, “Lord, to whom would we go? You have the words that give eternal life!”

 

Peter was saying, “Where in the world would be even go if not here with You??”

To where would we go?

 

Oh what if that was our response to all things hard and challenging and difficult:

“I have no other hope and To where would we go?”

 

Something to ponder today…