Its always hard to admit that your wrong. ----- BiBLE STUDY TIME: There was once a man who lived in the land of Uz. Who first begged the question, "Shall we only accept good from God, and shall we not accept adversity?" ----- oh and why does mcdonald's run out of fries!!!!?!?!?!

Its always hard to admit that your wrong. Sometime’s people will go to extraordinary measures to prove they are “right” even when they know they are wrong. But it’s not always about being “right.” Sometimes things are more complex than they seem. Sometimes there are deeper meanings and deeper reasons behind things that go on in our lives.  Sometimes God might be the only one who knows what’s going on and you just have to deal with the situation as it comes. Even when the world is falling down on you, even when your own wife tells you “Curse God and DiE!!” 

 That’s what happened to   Job.  (that pronounces with a hard O like “lobe” with a J not like “I need a job.” ) 

There was a man in the Bible named Job. Job was the richest man in his city. In fact Job was the richest man in the entire region that his country was in. Now Job was a Godly man, he loved the Lord and would pray and sacrifice for himself and is 10 children.  The Lord saw this and was so pleased that He blessed Job and protected him. 

One day the Lord and the devil were talking, the devil said to the Lord. “Job only loves you because he’s blessed if you took all his riches away he would curse you!”

The Lord knowing Job’s heart allowed Satan to test him. Job was cursed terribly by the Devil. All of his servants were killed, his land was seized, his children were killed and all his live stalk were burned... all in one day. 

And still Job didn’t curse God. 

Now the book of Job goes on for 41 more chapters of all the terrible things that happen to Job. His body is attacked because Satan thinks that will make him curse God. He grows painful boils on his skin from head to toe. He is the mockery of his town. Even the church rejects him... but in all of that Job still is strong in his love for God.  He says, 

“  Naked I came from my mother's womb,
       and naked I will depart.    The LORD gave and the LORD has taken away;
      may the name of the LORD be praised.  ”

But how many can say they are so dedicated to the Lord as Job? 

How many of us are quick to curse God as soon as our car is stolen? I know don’t know how many times I’ve heard someone say

        “Oh G-d damn...”  Because someone stole their watch....  or car...  -or  they got a flat tire - or they ran out of fries at McDonald’s (that really does get under my skin when that happens, i’m like “ITS Mickey D’s how you gunna run outta fries!” --- lol i digress) 

but really... think about that: 

How often is YOuR relationship with the Lord contingent upon your situation?  

I know sometimes it can be that way, but God gives us some really awesome examples of character in the Bible.  And Job was the ultimate example for us to follow. Even in his dismay Job had faith, and honored the Lord. 

Job says, in Job 2:10b “ Shall we only accept good from God, and shall we not accept adversity?” 

 This is really something to think about, how often are our adversities our biggest learning experiences? We need adversity to grow as individuals, to become stronger and wiser.

• if we don’t accept our adversities as the learning opportunities they are we simply are choosing to be foolish. And at the end of the day, with or without God - ADVERSITY WILL COME.... but with God there is meaning, and blessings that come.  In Job’s case, after he humbled himself prayed for the very people who cursed and laughed at him the Lord restored him and he was TWICE as rich as he was before . The Bible says , “ His later days were greater than his beginning.”

And that is what I pray for you brothers and sisters whatever the situation you might be facing, no matter if it seems impossible.  God has a plan to bring you threw it, and on to the blessings he has for you! 

I pray that you are encouraged.

and as always, 

Be Blessed... and a blessing to others. :) 

R. Calloway

 Read the whole story here : "Job was a man who lived in Uz. He was honest inside and out, a man of his word, who was totally devoted to God and hated evil with a passion. He had seven sons and three daughters. He was also very wealthy..."