What is God doing when life takes a turn for the worse? I believe the answer is found in what many scholars believe is the oldest book of the Bible: the book of Job. This book records the story of a man named Job whose life took a turn for the worse. Remember? He lost his finances, children, health, and marriage - one right after the other.
And what was God doing while this happened? I look at the first two chapters of Job and discover that God was watching Job’s every step, He was in control of Job’s situation, and He had a purpose behind Job’s suffering. What is true for Job is true for you. When life takes a turn for the worse, . . . .
I. God Is WATCHING Your Every Step.
(1:8, 2:3, 23:10) This tells us that God had his eye on Job and was watching his every step. What is true for Job is true for you. He knows what is going on in your life. He knows when you’re good and when you’re bad. He knows when you’re on the mountain top of life and when you’re in the valleys of life. He is watching your every step.
II. God Is IN CONTROL of Your Situation.
A lot of folks believe that the devil is just as powerful as God. And the two are fighting tooth and nail for control of the universe. But that simply isn’t true. God is in total control. He isn’t fighting for control. He isn’t struggling for control. He is in total control.
Look at 1:12 & 2:6 - who was in control? God was. The Devil can’t do one single thing without God’s permission. The Devil would love to chew you up and spit you out but He can’t unless God gives Him permission! Don’t ever think that the Devil is in control of your situation. God is the one who is in total control! He either causes or permits everything that happens in your life. Job put it like this . . . (2:10).
Knowing that God is in control of your life can give you great comfort, especially when life takes a turn for the worse. Why? Because He promises . . . (Romans 8:28). That verse doesn’t say "Everything that happens to me is good"; it says, "God is working everything together for my good" - and that’s a big difference. And somebody says, "Wait a second preacher. I don’t understand why God would allow . . . to happen. " That’s natural. God has unlimited wisdom, we don’t. God sees the big picture, and we don’t. If we just see the big picture God sees, everything He allows would make perfect sense.
III. He Has a PURPOSE for Your Suffering.
Look at Job. What was the purpose behind his suffering? God had at least two reasons: to prove Satan wrong and to strengthen Job’s faith. God had a purpose behind Job’s suffering, and the same is true for you.
Don’t ask me what that purpose is because I don’t know. I don’t walk in your shoes, I don’t live our life, so I don’t know. But I can tell you this - God has a plan and a purpose for your life (Jer. 23:11). He has your best interest in mind and your suffering has the potential to work to your benefit (ILL: Joseph in Gen. 50:20) (ILL: Paul in 2 Cor. 12) (ILL: Job in chapter 42). Like Job, you may never find out what that purpose is until you get to Heaven, but you need to rest assured that God has a purpose for your suffering.
What is God doing when life takes a turn for the worse? He is watching your every step, He is in control of your situation, and He has a purpose for your suffering. And the best thing you can is trust God, hold on, and don’t let go.
What about you? I hope the Spirit of God has spoken to your heart this morning. I hope He has shown you that God deserves your faith when life is going good and when life is going bad. And I hope that you will, right now, make a commitment to trust God through the good times and the bad.
