“’Naked I came from my mother’s womb, and naked will I depart. The LORD gave and the LORD has taken away; may the name of the LORD be praised.” — Job 1:21
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Young athletes shine on the playing field through speed, agility and strength. As players age, they often compensate for lost speed and strength by using wisdom, experience and hard work. Sometimes, a wily veteran outsmarts a more talented rookie.
How do we have a better life now than we did years ago, if we experienced divorce or the death of a close relative along the way? Our human minds crave plenty of possessions. We want everything at our fingertips and rooms filled with family and friends. We don’t want empty hands, purses or pockets. We don’t want empty chairs or rooms. We prefer homes filled with laughter and conversation.
However, the Bible teaches us that it’s possible to become better instead of bitter. The Lord knows how to turn our heartache into hallelujahs by teaching us patience, humility and compassion when our little world is topsy-turvy. For example, the Lord compares our spiritual growth to the process of making pottery from wet clay. “But the pot he was shaping from the clay was marred in his hands; so the potter formed it into another pot, shaping it as seemed best to him” (Jeremiah 18:4).
The man named Job had 10 children, many cattle and lots of possessions. He was a good man, but he didn’t become a great man until he lost almost everything. He became more humble through the process, as God restored his children and possessions in the end. Job’s incredible statement in the midst of his losses stands as a testimony to all generations:
“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; may the name of the LORD be praised'” (Job 1:20-21).
— Bill Kent, Pastor of Memorial Baptist Church, Sylvania, Georgia
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