Job 17:9: “Yet the righteous will hold to his way, / And he who has clean hands will be stronger and stronger.”

December 12th, 2023 by Pastor Ed in devotional

Job realized that if believers who found themselves in similar situations remained strong, remained faithful, then their suffering would produce strength of character in their lives. That doesn’t mean we just suffer for the sake of suffering. If a person simply chose to suffer, without trying to get help, it would mean there was something wrong in their thinking. But if a believer chooses to follow God’s will, even if it means they might suffer, then that is a healthy spiritual choice.

The apostle Paul accepted suffering, “a thorn in the flesh,” because it was part of the path God was taking him down. Paul asked God 3 times to remove the suffering, but God made it clear to him that it was part of His plan. So Paul simply accepted it and continued serving, even when it was hard. In fact Paul came to realize that it actually worked as an advantage in his life: “Therefore I take pleasure in infirmities, in reproaches, in needs, in persecutions, in distresses, for Christ’s sake. For when I am weak, then I am strong” (2 Cor. 12:10). Do we look for the good that God will bring through adversity?

British author Somerset Maugham wrote a short story about a janitor at St Peter’s Church in London. One day a young vicar discovered that the janitor was illiterate and fired him. Jobless, the man invested his meager savings in a tiny tobacco shop, which prospered. He bought another shop and expanded, ultimately ending up with a chain of tobacco stores worth several hundred thousand dollars. One day the man’s banker said, “You’ve done well for an illiterate. Imagine where you’d be if you could read and write!” “Well,” replied the man, “I’d be janitor of St. Peter’s Church in Neville Square.” A funny story but it does contain truth.

“LORD, help us to not just endure suffering today but to look for Your hand in it to bring strength into our life.”

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Job 17 KJV

¹ My breath is corrupt, my days are extinct, the graves are ready for me.  ² Are therenot mockers with me? and doth not mine eye continue in their provocation?  ³ Lay down now, put me in a surety with thee; who is he that will strike hands with me? ⁴For thou hast hid their heart from understanding: therefore shalt thou not exalt them . ⁵ He that speaketh flattery to his friends, even the eyes of his children shall fail. ⁶ He hath made me also a byword of the people; and aforetime I was as a tabret. ⁷ Mine eye also is dim by reason of sorrow, and all my members are as a shadow. ⁸ Upright men shall be astonied at this, and the innocent shall stir up himself against the hypocrite. ⁹ The righteous also shall hold on his way, and he that hath clean hands shall be stronger and stronger.  ¹⁰ But as for you all, do ye return, and come now: for I cannot find one wise manamong you. ¹¹ My days are past, my purposes are broken off, even the thoughts of my heart.  ¹² They change the night into day: the light is short because of darkness. ¹³ If I wait, the grave is mine house: I have made my bed in the darkness. ¹⁴ I have said to corruption, Thou art my father: to the worm, Thou art my mother, and my sister.  ¹⁵ And where is now my hope? as for my hope, who shall see it? ¹⁶ They shall go down to the bars of the pit, when our rest together is in the dust.