God Believes in You

Scripture Reference:

Job 2:3 (NIV)

“Then the Lord said to Satan, ‘Have you considered my servant Job? There is no one on earth like him; he is blameless and upright, a man who fears God and shuns evil. And he still maintains his integrity, though you incited me against him to ruin him without any reason.’”

The more we journey through the story of Book of Job together, the more I realize what a beautiful story of restoration it truly is.

Because Job is a story many of us can relate to.

Maybe not in the exact same way, but we understand what it feels like to lose something. To grieve. To feel devastated. To feel as though everything has fallen apart — even when, technically, it hasn’t.

There is something about grief, especially grief connected to loss and the people we love, that narrows our vision. Even when beautiful things still exist all around us.

Our health may be good.
Our children may be doing well.
Our grandparents may still be alive, loving, joyful, and strong.
A job may be thriving.
A promotion may have just come through.
There may still be money in the bank.
Many of the very things we once prayed for may still be present in our lives.

And yet grief has a way of ignoring all we still have and fixing our eyes only on what we lost.

That is part of what makes the story of Job so beautiful. It reminds us that God restores.

But there is also a hard truth inside the story of Job:

God allowed it.

That can be difficult to wrestle with. Why would God allow such devastation? Why would He allow the enemy access to bring chaos, suffering, heartbreak, and pain into someone’s life?

But hidden inside that hard truth is another truth — a quieter one, but powerful:

God believed in Job.

When the enemy came seeking someone to destroy, he looked at Job. He studied Job. He wanted Job.

And God said, “Have you considered my servant Job?”

What a statement.

God declared Job faithful.
Steadfast.
True.

The enemy argued that Job only loved God because his life was blessed. And when the suffering increased, Job came dangerously close to despair and questioning everything.

But I often wonder…

What if Job had heard that first conversation?
What if he knew that before the trial ever began, God had already spoken confidently about him?

“He’s faithful. Nothing will turn him away from Me.”

And maybe that’s how God sees us too.

When hard things happen in our lives, we often ask:
“Why did this happen?”

But maybe another question is:
“What does God know about me that caused Him to trust me with this battle?”

Somehow, many of us keep finding ourselves on what feels like the “strong soldier list” year after year.

Honestly, sometimes I wish I could be on Oprah Winfrey’s favorite things list instead.

But instead, life keeps handing us battles.
Grief.
Stretching seasons.
Unexpected pain.
Long nights.

And while that can feel unfair, maybe it is also evidence of something deeper:

God knows who He created you to be.

Not because He expects you to handle it alone.

That’s one of the greatest myths we tell each other:
“God allowed this because He knew you could handle it.”

No.

God allowed it because He knew He could handle it.

He can handle the storm.
He can handle the loss.
He can handle the grief.
He can handle the anxiety.
He can handle the depression.
He can handle the tears cried in the middle of the night.

God never intended for us to carry these things by ourselves.

What He asks of us is faith.
Trust.
Dependence.
Hope.

Not perfection.
Not strength without breaking.
Not pretending we are okay.

Just faith that He will sustain us in what we cannot sustain ourselves through.

So if you find yourself once again on the “strong soldier list,” know this:

You are not there alone.

And if God allowed this season, it is not because He abandoned you. It is because He believes in who He created you to be.

Gracious.
Loving.
Resilient.
Faithful.
Honorable.
Full of hope.

God believes in you.

So slowly, gently, begin believing in yourself too.

Prayer:

Father God,

I am not sure how I keep finding myself on the “strong soldier” list…

But, as I’ve learned more and more about Job’s life, I understand what a privilege it is to be trusted by you.

For you, Lord, to be believe in me. I am honored.

To know that I will not turn away from you in chaos, confusion or what feels like destruction.

Thank you for being with me in the best moments of my life and the hard places.

God you hear me, love me, and believe in me!

For that, I give you praise.

In Jesus name,
Amen.