the Lord gives…the Lord takes away
Jun 16th, 2008 by Nathanael
This well known phrase was spoken by Job after everything he had, including his children, was taken from him by the accuser and adversary of the children of God.
What would possess a man to vocalize such a statement?
What, besides faith in the God who loves him, could prompt such a declaration?
Nothing.
Only faith in the never-failing love of God, apart from that which He gives and that which He allows to be taken away, could birth such a pronouncement.
Our Lord’s love goes much deeper than things we see with our eyes.
And though it makes no sense to us when something we love dearly is taken from us, and hope seems like the farthest thing from a possibility, we trust the heart of our God.
Trust alone flies in the face of tragedy.
Hope defies despair.
And love wins.
I think everyone at some point in their life can somewhat to relate to Job when he had everything taken away from him. I don’t think anyone gets it as bad as he did, but we all have that moment when something we thought was so important in our lives gets taken away, and too often people do not praise God in that moment. In the moment when Job has all of his children taken away, it’s really amazing that he can say “The Lord gives and the Lord takes away.” In our society, what Job said would be seen as unloving rather than understanding. Job knew God had a plan even though the pain he was probably feeling at that moment must have been nearly unbearable. That’s a faith that could probably move mountains!
Amen, sister.
Lord give us this faith!