Closely Follow His Steps

Good Morning,

Job 23:10-11 (NIV)
But he (God) knows the way that I take;
when he has tested me, I will come forth as gold.
My feet have closely followed his steps;
I have kept to his way without turning aside.

Job went through trials that would probably put most of us down and out...completely. Yet he says these words, "I have kept to his way without turning aside."

Can you and I say that today? We've had our problems and our challenges in life, at least most of us have, probably all of us to some extent. There are those of us who have had extreme hardships and trials and others of us who have only experienced minor challenges to overcome. Whichever it might be, the question still remains: Have we, as Job, kept to God's ways without ever turning aside?

I wish I could say that were true in my life. But, of course, I cannot. There have been times when things went so badly that I all but gave up on God and even the thought of having Him in my life. That's a difficult confession to make, I know, but if we can't be true and honest about this kind of thing to one another then I think we've missed the point in having good, Christian friends. Yes, I'm sure that there are many of us who have faced troubles and felt as I have felt from time to time about God and following in Jesus' foot steps and keeping His ways. But, you know what? That's OK.

You see, God has big shoulders and can take any and all of our complaints. He is also a loving and caring God who will put His arms around us during our most difficult times to comfort us, if we will allow Him to. Then, equally important, if not more so, He is a forgiving God who understands that we will fail from time to time...especially when things go badly in our lives...and He will forgive our failures. All we've got to do is to go to Him and ask.

Job set the example for us as to how we ought to act in times of difficulty and trouble. Will we all be as faithful as Job? Maybe not. But in his example we see that it is possible to live a Godly life, no matter what.

If today you are having difficulties (and, oh Lord, so many of us are) let's remember that we still should follow closely His steps and keep His ways. In doing these things we will find peace and comfort. (It would be a good idea for all of us to read the Book of Job.)

Love, peace, and blessings,

David