The Gift of Adversity 

The LORD blessed the latter days of Job more than his beginning. – Job 42:12, NASB

When reading the book of Job, there’s a tendency to focus on what Job lost and then regained in terms of family and wealth. However, there is one thing that Job never lost and held onto through his entire ordeal—his faith in God. While in the end God restored what he lost, and then some, I think he held onto them more lightly than he did at the beginning of the book. 

The real treasure that Job acquired after his ordeal was a deeper understanding of God’s steadfastness. He experienced first hand the temporal nature of the things of this world. Even though he suffered great loss, he gained a deeper understanding of the eternal character of God. Job accepted the invitation to go deeper in his trust of God and a deeper relationship.

In times of crisis in life, you can respond as Job’s wife did in bitterness when she told him, “Curse God and die (Job 2:9).” You can blame God and be angry or respond as Job did to his wife when he told her, “Shall we indeed accept good from God and not accept adversity (2:10)?” 

It’s hard to view adversity as an invitation to draw closer to our eternal God. It’s a choice to focus on the eternal or grow bitter about the temporal nature of the world we live in.

Rest in the LORD and wait patiently for Him; Do not fret because of him who prospers in his way, Because of the man who carries out wicked schemes.” – Psalm 37:7, NASB

He who overcomes will inherit these things, and I will be his God and he will be My son. – Revelation 21:7