1. "From Sorrow To Joy"
One of the reasons I enjoy my Bible reading is because the Holy Spirit continually shows me new truths, and gives me clearer understanding. As I finished the book of Esther recently, I was drawn to Esther 9:22, "As the days wherein the Jews rested from their enemies, and the month which was turned unto them from sorrow to joy, and from mourning into a good day: that they should make them days of feasting and joy, and of sending portions one to another, and gifts to the poor." I like the comparison... "from sorrow to joy, and from mourning into a good day..." I dare say we all have had some days of mourning. We all experience bad days. In the book of Esther, God turned their bad day into a good day. I believe that it will encourage us all to look in God's Word and find ways to turn our bad days into good days.
2. "Call Me Not Naomi, Call Me Mara"
I felt like God was leading me to study and see how we can turn bad days into good days but I wasn't sure where I would begin. We went to church last Sunday morning and Pastor Jack Tripp's sermon was about Naomi. The beginning of the book of Ruth we find Naomi in mourning. During the famine her family went to Moab and during the ten years she was there her husband and two sons died. She heard that there was bread in Bethlehem-Judah so she went back home. Naomi said, "Call me not Naomi, call me Mara: for the Almighty hath dealt very bitterly with me." She was still mourning her losses, and she said, "I went out full, and the LORD hath brought me home again empty..." Let's continue tomorrow and see how the Lord turned her mourning into joy.
"19 So they two went until they came to Bethlehem. And it came to pass, when they were come to Bethlehem, that all the city was moved about them, and they said, Is this Naomi?
20 And she said unto them, Call me not Naomi, call me Mara: for the Almighty hath dealt very bitterly with me.
21 I went out full, and the LORD hath brought me home again empty: why then call ye me Naomi, seeing the LORD hath testified against me, and the Almighty hath afflicted me?
22 So Naomi returned, and Ruth the Moabitess, her daughter in law, with her, which returned out of the country of Moab: and they came to Bethlehem in the beginning of barley harvest." (Ruth 1:19-20)
3. Put The Past Behind You
Sometimes when we remember our past, it can make us have a bad day. Naomi had been in the land of Moab for ten years, and her husband and two sons had died there. But, this was a new day! She had left her past behind her. She had returned to Bethlehem-Judah, "the house of bread and praise." She didn't have to live in the past. We also don't have to live in the memories of our past. The Lord can heal our broken hearts. "He healeth the broken in heart, and bindeth up their wounds." (Psalm 147:3) The Lord can also forgive us of our sins, and we can put that behind us. " If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness." (I John 1:9) "As far as the east is from the west, so far hath he removed our transgressions from us." (Psalm 103:12) "Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new." (II Corinthians 5:17) When the memories of the past make you have a bad day, remember that this is a new day. We are not in one of those movies where the main character keeps reliving the same day over and over. Each new day is a gift from God.
4. Put Your Trust In The Lord
Naomi felt like she had nothing. After ten years in Moab, she had lost it all. She told her friends, "Call me not Naomi, call me Mara: for the Almighty hath dealt very bitterly with me. I went out full, and the LORD hath brought me home again empty..." (Part of Ruth 1:20-21) Many times our bad days make us feel like we have nothing. We can turn that type of bad day into a good day by putting our focus on what we do have, and not on what we don't have. Naomi may have thought she had nothing, but let's look at what she did have. First of all, we see that she had the Lord. She said, "...the LORD hath brought me home again..." The Lord had brought her all the way back home again from the land of Moab. Things may happen on our journey that make us stumble and fall, and take us to our knees, but we can be sure the Lord will get us home! God's Word tells us in Hebrews 13:5, "Let your conversation be without covetousness; and be content with such things as ye have: for he hath said, I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee." If you know the Lord Jesus as your Savior, you can be sure that He will never leave you and He will take you home!
5. She Had A Partner Beside Her
As Naomi was telling her old friends, "I went out full, and the LORD hath brought me home again empty", Ruth was probably standing right there with her. Think of how she felt, after leaving her family and her homeland to go with Naomi, and her mother-in-law doesn't show any recognition of her dedication and faithfulness. You can hear the compassion and love in Ruth's voice in Ruth 1:16-17. "And Ruth said, Intreat me not to leave thee, or to return from following after thee: for whither thou goest, I will go; and where thou lodgest, I will lodge: thy people shall be my people, and thy God my God: Where thou diest, will I die, and there will I be buried: the LORD do so to me, and more also, if ought but death part thee and me." Ruth promised to stick with Naomi. She was willing to work hard gleaning in the fields. When we are having a bad day we tend to forget our friends. Call or visit a friend. A dear friend can often give us a shoulder to lean on, and lift our spirits. A good friend can cry with us, and often turn our tears to laughter. Because Michael had his heart surgery during the worst days of Covid, I had no friends or family that I could hold on to, or lean on. I felt like it would have made my days a little better if I could have hugged my children and grandchildren. But, it did help to brighten my days to talk with them on the phone. It gave me a better day when our children delivered groceries and things we needed to the house. Don't forget your friends.
6. She Had A Power Beyond Her - A Kinsman Redeemer
Naomi thought she had nothing. She told her daughters-in-law to go back to their homes and families. But, Ruth went with her and in the beginning of chapter 2 we read, "And Naomi had a kinsman of her husband's, a mighty man of wealth, of the family of Elimelech; and his name was Boaz." (Ruth 2:1) Boaz was a kinsman. He was wealthy and able to redeem her property. And he was willing. He told the young men who worked in his fields, "And let fall also some of the handfuls of purpose for her, and leave them, that she may glean them, and rebuke her not." (Ruth 2:16) When we think of how we were lost in sin, we remember how much we needed a Redeemer, One who was in our family, One who was able, and One who was willing. Praise the Lord! Jesus gave His life to redeem us! Think of all the blessings that God has dropped in our lap, those handfuls on purpose that He showers down on us! He is our Redeemer! "Thus saith the LORD the King of Israel, and his redeemer the LORD of hosts; I am the first, and I am the last; and beside me there is no God." (Isaiah 44:6) "As for our redeemer, the LORD of hosts is his name, the Holy One of Israel." (Isaiah 47:4) I hope to begin in the book of Job tomorrow and look at how his bad day turned into a good day, so let's go ahead and look at one of those verses. Even in the midst of his trial, Job never lost faith in his Redeemer. "For I know that my redeemer liveth, and that he shall stand at the latter day upon the earth:" (Job 19:25)
7. A Bad Day May Get Worse Before It Gets Better
Let's begin the book of Job...
"1 There was a man in the land of Uz, whose name was Job; and that man was perfect and upright, and one that feared God, and eschewed evil.
2 And there were born unto him seven sons and three daughters.
3 His substance also was seven thousand sheep, and three thousand camels, and five hundred yoke of oxen, and five hundred she asses, and a very great household; so that this man was the greatest of all the men of the east." (Job 1:1-3)
Everything looked good, until he had a very bad day. Satan told God that Job would curse Him if He took all he had. "And the LORD said unto Satan, Behold, all that he hath is in thy power; only upon himself put not forth thine hand. So Satan went forth from the presence of the LORD." (Job 1:12) In one day, Job lost his servants, his livestock, and his children.
"20 Then Job arose, and rent his mantle, and shaved his head, and fell down upon the ground, and worshipped,
21 And said, Naked came I out of my mother's womb, and naked shall I return thither: the LORD gave, and the LORD hath taken away; blessed be the name of the LORD.
22 In all this Job sinned not, nor charged God foolishly." (Job 1:20-22)
In chapter 2 Job's bad day turned worse, as Satan went before God and gained permission to attack Job's body.
"7 So went Satan forth from the presence of the LORD, and smote Job with sore boils from the sole of his foot unto his crown.
8 And he took him a potsherd to scrape himself withal; and he sat down among the ashes.
9 Then said his wife unto him, Dost thou still retain thine integrity? curse God, and die.
10 But he said unto her, Thou speakest as one of the foolish women speaketh. What? shall we receive good at the hand of God, and shall we not receive evil? In all this did not Job sin with his lips." (Job 2:7-10)
We are talking about "Turning A Bad Day Into A Good Day", but sometimes our bad days get worse before they get better. Don't lose hope. Keep your trust in the Lord. Job didn't curse the Lord or sin with his lips. When I am having a bad day I often gripe and complain. If I keep my eyes on the Lord, it may be easier to keep my mouth shut.
8. Some People Make A Bad Day Worse
We talked about how Naomi had Ruth to make her life better. In the book of Job we must realize that his wife also lost her children and their livelihood. She was no comfort to Job. She told him, "Dost thou still retain thine integrity? curse God, and die." (Job 2:9) Job's friends who came to comfort him accused him and condemned him of things he had not done. They only made his bad time worse. Eliphaz was very cruel, especially since Job's children had been crushed under a house that fell in and robbers had taken his livestock.
"3 I have seen the foolish taking root: but suddenly I cursed his habitation.
4 His children are far from safety, and they are crushed in the gate, neither is there any to deliver them.
5 Whose harvest the hungry eateth up, and taketh it even out of the thorns, and the robber swalloweth up their substance." (Job 5:3-5)
Bildad was also cruel in his words...
"4 If thy children have sinned against him, and he have cast them away for their transgression;
5 If thou wouldest seek unto God betimes, and make thy supplication to the Almighty;
6 If thou wert pure and upright; surely now he would awake for thee, and make the habitation of thy righteousness prosperous." (Job 8:4-6)
Zophar even told Job that he deserved worse than he got. "...Know therefore that God exacteth of thee less than thine iniquity deserveth." (Job 11:6)
Job answered his friends, "No doubt but ye are the people, and wisdom shall die with you." (Job 12:2) "I have heard many such things: miserable comforters are ye all... I also could speak as ye do: if your soul were in my soul's stead, I could heap up words against you, and shake mine head at you. But I would strengthen you with my mouth, and the moving of my lips should asswage your grief." (Job 16:2, 4 &5)
Some people may come to us in the guise of bringing comfort, when in reality they make our tough times harder. There are times when we have to remove ourselves from these toxic people before things can start getting better.
9. Prayer And Forgiveness
We saw how Job's friends who came to comfort him were with him but they actually made his bad time worse. His other family and friends all turned against him.
"12 His troops come together, and raise up their way against me, and encamp round about my tabernacle.
13 He hath put my brethren far from me, and mine acquaintance are verily estranged from me.
14 My kinsfolk have failed, and my familiar friends have forgotten me.
15 They that dwell in mine house, and my maids, count me for a stranger: I am an alien in their sight.
16 I called my servant, and he gave me no answer; I intreated him with my mouth.
17 My breath is strange to my wife, though I intreated for the children's sake of mine own body.
18 Yea, young children despised me; I arose, and they spake against me.
19 All my inward friends abhorred me: and they whom I loved are turned against me." (Job 19:12-19)
What did Job do? He prayed for them. And I believe that he forgave them. God's Word tells us to forgive others. It doesn't help to become bitter. "Let all bitterness, and wrath, and anger, and clamour, and evil speaking, be put away from you, with all malice: And be ye kind one to another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God for Christ's sake hath forgiven you." (Ephesians 4:31-32)
"10 And the LORD turned the captivity of Job, when he prayed for his friends: also the LORD gave Job twice as much as he had before.
11 Then came there unto him all his brethren, and all his sisters, and all they that had been of his acquaintance before, and did eat bread with him in his house: and they bemoaned him, and comforted him over all the evil that the LORD had brought upon him: every man also gave him a piece of money, and every one an earring of gold.
12 So the LORD blessed the latter end of Job more than his beginning: for he had fourteen thousand sheep, and six thousand camels, and a thousand yoke of oxen, and a thousand she asses." (Job 42:10-12)
10. Sometimes Bad Things Happen To Good People
The problem with Job's comforters, was that they believed that bad things only happened to those who were bad. "Remember, I pray thee, who ever perished, being innocent? or where were the righteous cut off? Even as I have seen, they that plow iniquity, and sow wickedness, reap the same." (Job 4:7-8) "Behold, God will not cast away a perfect man, neither will he help the evil doers:" (Job 8:20) The prophet Jeremiah asked God, "Wherefore doth the way of the wicked prosper? wherefore are all they happy that deal very treacherously?" (Jeremiah 12:1) When we hear of someone we know, who loves and serves God, going through a terrible trial, we are prone to wonder why bad things happen to good people. Asaph asked the same questions in Psalm 73.
"2 But as for me, my feet were almost gone; my steps had well nigh slipped.
3 For I was envious at the foolish, when I saw the prosperity of the wicked.
4 For there are no bands in their death: but their strength is firm.
5 They are not in trouble as other men; neither are they plagued like other men.
6 Therefore pride compasseth them about as a chain; violence covereth them as a garment.
7 Their eyes stand out with fatness: they have more than heart could wish.
8 They are corrupt, and speak wickedly concerning oppression: they speak loftily.
9 They set their mouth against the heavens, and their tongue walketh through the earth.
10 Therefore his people return hither: and waters of a full cup are wrung out to them.
11 And they say, How doth God know? and is there knowledge in the most High?
12 Behold, these are the ungodly, who prosper in the world; they increase in riches.
13 Verily I have cleansed my heart in vain, and washed my hands in innocency.
14 For all the day long have I been plagued, and chastened every morning." (Psalm 73:2-13)
He continues, "When I thought to know this, it was too painful for me;" (verse 16) But, we must continue reading farther into the Psalm...
"17 Until I went into the sanctuary of God; then understood I their end.
18 Surely thou didst set them in slippery places: thou castedst them down into destruction.
19 How are they brought into desolation, as in a moment! they are utterly consumed with terrors.
20 As a dream when one awaketh; so, O Lord, when thou awakest, thou shalt despise their image.
21 Thus my heart was grieved, and I was pricked in my reins.
22 So foolish was I, and ignorant: I was as a beast before thee.
23 Nevertheless I am continually with thee: thou hast holden me by my right hand.
24 Thou shalt guide me with thy counsel, and afterward receive me to glory.
25 Whom have I in heaven but thee? and there is none upon earth that I desire beside thee.
26 My flesh and my heart faileth: but God is the strength of my heart, and my portion for ever.
27 For, lo, they that are far from thee shall perish: thou hast destroyed all them that go a whoring from thee.
28 But it is good for me to draw near to God: I have put my trust in the Lord GOD, that I may declare all thy works." (Psalm 73:17-28)
When the bad days come and we can't find help among our friends, we can always look up and say with calm assurance, "Whom have I in heaven but thee?... My flesh and my heart faileth, but God is the strength of my heart, and my portion for ever." Jesus assures us, "... In the world ye shall have tribulation: but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world." (John 16:33) Bad days will come... but we can look to Jesus to find peace and strength to overcome.
11. Sometimes Doctors Can't Turn A Bad Day Into A Good Day
I am so thankful for the doctors and surgeons who have helped Michael with his heart problems. When I met with the surgeon after waiting all day during his heart surgery last December, he told me that there were several complications and he could not completely take care of the problem. I thank my good Lord for being with us during these last eight months. Michael still has good days and bad days, and we know that it is in God's hands. Sometimes doctors can turn a bad day into a better day, but they can't always make the problems go away. I believe that Job tried to get help from doctors because of what he told his "comforters". "But ye are forgers of lies, ye are all physicians of no value." (Job 13:4) Job places them on the save level as the physicians who had not been able to help him. Do you remember the story of what happened when Jesus was on His way to heal Jairus' daughter? The woman had spent all the money she had, but had gotten worse, yet she knew that if she could touch the hem of Jesus' garment, she would be healed. We know the Great Physician! We can fall on our knees and reach out to touch the hem of His garment through prayer. He is able to turn our bad days into good days. And one day when we reach heaven He will take away all our sickness and pain.
"25 And a certain woman, which had an issue of blood twelve years,
26 And had suffered many things of many physicians, and had spent all that she had, and was nothing bettered, but rather grew worse,
27 When she had heard of Jesus, came in the press behind, and touched his garment.
28 For she said, If I may touch but his clothes, I shall be whole.
29 And straightway the fountain of her blood was dried up; and she felt in her body that she was healed of that plague.
30 And Jesus, immediately knowing in himself that virtue had gone out of him, turned him about in the press, and said, Who touched my clothes?
31 And his disciples said unto him, Thou seest the multitude thronging thee, and sayest thou, Who touched me?
32 And he looked round about to see her that had done this thing.
33 But the woman fearing and trembling, knowing what was done in her, came and fell down before him, and told him all the truth.
34 And he said unto her, Daughter, thy faith hath made thee whole; go in peace, and be whole of thy plague." (Mark 5:25-34)
12. Writing It Down, Can Sometimes Make A Bad Day Better
We have read several scriptures that tell us how Job felt as he was going through his days of darkness. God preserved the words of Job, just as Job desired. Now we can read this old, ancient book and learn from it. Job wanted to share his story. He wanted to talk with someone who would listen and understand, without condemning him. When I am going through storms and trials I feel the need to talk with someone. I pray and pour my heart out to the Lord, but sometimes I just need a shoulder to lean on. As I look back to last Christmas I don't know how I made it through, day after day, sitting in CCU at the hospital, and then later at the rehab center. Spending most of my days in silence, as I watched Michael struggle to get through the day. As I have often said, it was during the heat of Covid and I had to isolate myself from all my family and friends. I wanted someone to talk to. So I poured my heart out in my daily devotionals. I had planned to pull out some old ones that I had written before, but it helped me to tell my story. All the while, I prayed that God would use it to help someone else who was struggling with life. And it was so encouraging to get cards, and messages from Christian brothers and sisters who were praying for Michael. Tell others what the Lord has done for you and how He has brought you through. Encourage others as you share your story!
"23 Oh that my words were now written! oh that they were printed in a book!
24 That they were graven with an iron pen and lead in the rock for ever!
25 For I know that my redeemer liveth, and that he shall stand at the latter day upon the earth:
26 And though after my skin worms destroy this body, yet in my flesh shall I see God:" (Job 19:23-26)
13. When Everything Seems To Be Against Us
Do you ever feel like everything is going against you? I know I have. Sometimes one thing will go wrong, and as I try to fix that, something else goes awry, and my problems seem to keep growing, until I ask why everything is going against me. I have been struggling lately, and as I was feeling sorry for myself, someone called me and started telling me some of the problems in her life, and I repented. There are many who have such a harder life than I have. When I searched the phrase, "against me", I found that it is in the Bible 154 times, and 18 times in the book of Job. In Job 16:10 he says, "They have gaped upon me with their mouth; they have smitten me upon the cheek reproachfully; they have gathered themselves together against me." Jacob felt like everything was against him, but it was all working together for good. "And Jacob their father said unto them, Me have ye bereaved of my children: Joseph is not, and Simeon is not, and ye will take Benjamin away: all these things are against me." (Genesis 42:36) Joseph's brothers were against him, but he was able to see God's hand on his life, and forgive them. "But as for you, ye thought evil against me; but God meant it unto good, to bring to pass, as it is this day, to save much people alive. Now therefore fear ye not: I will nourish you, and your little ones. And he comforted them, and spake kindly unto them." (Genesis 50:20-21) Many times in the book of Psalms David speaks of those against him. "For the mouth of the wicked and the mouth of the deceitful are opened against me: they have spoken against me with a lying tongue. They compassed me about also with words of hatred; and fought against me without a cause." (Psalm 109:2-3) There are many more examples in the Bible that describe times when people thought everything, or everybody was against them. Jesus knew that Judas Iscariot was against Him, "I speak not of you all: I know whom I have chosen: but that the scripture may be fulfilled, He that eateth bread with me hath lifted up his heel against me." (John 13:18) What can we do when we feel like everything or everyone is against us? Put our trust in the Lord!
"And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose... What shall we then say to these things? If God be for us, who can be against us?" (Romans 8:28 & 31)
14. Why Do We Have Storms And Bad Days?
I want to look at something a little different today. I am still in the book of Job and I am still looking at bad days. After Job's three comforters stopped talking, Elihu decided to tell them some truths about God Almighty. In chapters 36 and 37 he speaks of God controlling the clouds and storms. I am including several verses so you can read the different aspects of weather about which he speaks. The verse that made me sit up and take notice is 37:13. He has mentioned the rain, the thunder and lightning, snow, frost, and the whirlwind. In the summary of all this, he said, "He causeth it to come, whether for correction, or for his land, or for mercy." We may often wonder why storms come. Elihu gives us three reasons, and it would be good to look at these when we have storms in our lives. First, he says, "for correction". Many times we may be going through trials because God is trying to correct us and get us back on the right path. Next, he says, "for his land". Rain may be falling just because the earth needs the water. We may go through storms in America, and throughout the world, so that people will turn to God. "The earth is the LORD'S, and the fulness thereof; the world, and they that dwell therein." (Psalm 24:1) Last of all, "for mercy." We don't always know why we face storms in this life, but our God is a merciful God! He is good! And He will never do us wrong!
"Job 36:26 Behold, God is great, and we know him not, neither can the number of his years be searched out.
27 For he maketh small the drops of water: they pour down rain according to the vapour thereof:
28 Which the clouds do drop and distil upon man abundantly.
29 Also can any understand the spreadings of the clouds, or the noise of his tabernacle?
30 Behold, he spreadeth his light upon it, and covereth the bottom of the sea.
31 For by them judgeth he the people; he giveth meat in abundance.
32 With clouds he covereth the light; and commandeth it not to shine by the cloud that cometh betwixt.
33 The noise thereof sheweth concerning it, the cattle also concerning the vapour.
Job 37:1 At this also my heart trembleth, and is moved out of his place.
2 Hear attentively the noise of his voice, and the sound that goeth out of his mouth.
3 He directeth it under the whole heaven, and his lightning unto the ends of the earth.
4 After it a voice roareth: he thundereth with the voice of his excellency; and he will not stay them when his voice is heard.
5 God thundereth marvellously with his voice; great things doeth he, which we cannot comprehend.
6 For he saith to the snow, Be thou on the earth; likewise to the small rain, and to the great rain of his strength.
7 He sealeth up the hand of every man; that all men may know his work.
8 Then the beasts go into dens, and remain in their places.
9 Out of the south cometh the whirlwind: and cold out of the north.
10 By the breath of God frost is given: and the breadth of the waters is straitened.
11 Also by watering he wearieth the thick cloud: he scattereth his bright cloud:
12 And it is turned round about by his counsels: that they may do whatsoever he commandeth them upon the face of the world in the earth.
13 He causeth it to come, whether for correction, or for his land, or for mercy."
15. Looking Back At Better Days
Have you ever heard an older person refer to the "good 'ole days"? Well, I have crossed over, and I am one of them! Yesterday I was talking to someone about the good days that I grew up in. I knew my parents didn't have an over-abundance of wealth, but we worked together, ate our meals together, prayed together, and went to church and worshiped together. Mom didn't worry about us when we played on the sidewalk while she washed clothes at the laundromat. Times were simpler, and safer. In the 29th chapter of Job he tells of the "good 'ole days" when he helped others and he was respected. I felt like it was important to include the entire chapter. At the end I am including the first verse of the next chapter... just because I like it. After telling how he sat as a righteous judge before the poor and needy, he tells how the younger people now laugh at him. He says that he wouldn't even want their fathers to have the job of sitting with his sheep dogs. Job didn't lose his sense of humor.
"1 Moreover Job continued his parable, and said,
2 Oh that I were as in months past, as in the days when God preserved me;
3 When his candle shined upon my head, and when by his light I walked through darkness;
4 As I was in the days of my youth, when the secret of God was upon my tabernacle;
5 When the Almighty was yet with me, when my children were about me;
6 When I washed my steps with butter, and the rock poured me out rivers of oil;
7 When I went out to the gate through the city, when I prepared my seat in the street!
8 The young men saw me, and hid themselves: and the aged arose, and stood up.
9 The princes refrained talking, and laid their hand on their mouth.
10 The nobles held their peace, and their tongue cleaved to the roof of their mouth.
11 When the ear heard me, then it blessed me; and when the eye saw me, it gave witness to me:
12 Because I delivered the poor that cried, and the fatherless, and him that had none to help him.
13 The blessing of him that was ready to perish came upon me: and I caused the widow's heart to sing for joy.
14 I put on righteousness, and it clothed me: my judgment was as a robe and a diadem.
15 I was eyes to the blind, and feet was I to the lame.
16 I was a father to the poor: and the cause which I knew not I searched out.
17 And I brake the jaws of the wicked, and plucked the spoil out of his teeth.
18 Then I said, I shall die in my nest, and I shall multiply my days as the sand.
19 My root was spread out by the waters, and the dew lay all night upon my branch.
20 My glory was fresh in me, and my bow was renewed in my hand.
21 Unto me men gave ear, and waited, and kept silence at my counsel.
22 After my words they spake not again; and my speech dropped upon them.
23 And they waited for me as for the rain; and they opened their mouth wide as for the latter rain.
24 If I laughed on them, they believed it not; and the light of my countenance they cast not down.
25 I chose out their way, and sat chief, and dwelt as a king in the army, as one that comforteth the mourners." (Job 29)
"But now they that are younger than I have me in derision, whose fathers I would have disdained to have set with the dogs of my flock." (Job 30:1)
16. God Sees Our Good Days And Our Bad Days
Today we find more encouragement from Elihu. "For his eyes are upon the ways of man, and he seeth all his goings." (Job 34:21) I find this encouraging because our God sees our good days, and our bad days. He sees the intentions of our heart, even when we are frail and can't follow through. He knows and understands why some of His children can't be at church today. God sees us when we are up on the mountain top and He sees us when we are going through the valley. We probably all have friends who only come around when life is going well, but can't be found when we need them. Our God does not desert us when we are going through the storms of life, He is with us always! Here are several more verses of promise about the eyes of the Lord, to give us hope.
"For the eyes of the LORD run to and fro throughout the whole earth, to shew himself strong in the behalf of them whose heart is perfect toward him... (II Chronicles 16:9)
"Behold, the eye of the LORD is upon them that fear him, upon them that hope in his mercy;" (Psalm 33:18)
"The eyes of the LORD are upon the righteous, and his ears are open unto their cry." (Psalm 34:15)
"For the ways of man are before the eyes of the LORD, and he pondereth all his goings." (Proverbs 5:21)
"The eyes of the LORD are in every place, beholding the evil and the good." (Proverbs 15:3)
"For the eyes of the Lord are over the righteous, and his ears are open unto their prayers: but the face of the Lord is against them that do evil." (I Peter 3:12)
17. God Counts Our Steps
The doctor told Michael that walking would be good to strengthen his heart. So we bought two cheap pedometers and started walking. We would walk side by side but after 20 minutes, there was a great difference in the number of steps counted. We decided to walk and count 100 steps... and found that neither of the devices was correct. Michael got a smart watch and it reminds him to walk each hour if he doesn't get his steps in. This helps Michael because of the reminder and it encourages him at the end of the day to see how many steps he has taken. Job asked, "Doth not he see my ways, and count all my steps?" (Job 31:4) He also said, "For now thou numberest my steps:..." (Job 14:16) Job recognized that not only does God see our good and bad days, but He knows every step we take. He doesn't even need a man-made gadget to know how many steps we take. Once when the boys were small, after a long day, Daniel said, "I can't walk, my feet are too big." Have you ever felt like you just couldn't go another step? Like your feet were too big to pick them up off the floor? God knows how heavy our feet become, and how weary we get because of the way. "And they journeyed from mount Hor by the way of the Red sea, to compass the land of Edom: and the soul of the people was much discouraged because of the way." (Numbers 21:4) If you are discouraged in your journey, "because of the way", remember that God sees the way you travel, and not a step you take goes unnoticed.
18. Seek The Lord
It is great to have friends and family to talk to during our times of trouble, but the best One to talk to is our Lord. He knows all about all our problems before we even ask Him. And many times He is the only one who can help us get through the storms. Job sought for the Lord, and could not seem to find Him. Don't give up if you feel like your prayers go unanswered. God still hears and answers our prayers even in our darkest days. Jesus said, "Ask, and it shall be given you; seek, and ye shall find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you: For every one that asketh receiveth; and he that seeketh findeth; and to him that knocketh it shall be opened." (Matthew 7:7-8)
"3 Oh that I knew where I might find him! that I might come even to his seat!
4 I would order my cause before him, and fill my mouth with arguments.
5 I would know the words which he would answer me, and understand what he would say unto me.
6 Will he plead against me with his great power? No; but he would put strength in me.
7 There the righteous might dispute with him; so should I be delivered for ever from my judge.
8 Behold, I go forward, but he is not there; and backward, but I cannot perceive him:
9 On the left hand, where he doth work, but I cannot behold him: he hideth himself on the right hand, that I cannot see him:
10 But he knoweth the way that I take: when he hath tried me, I shall come forth as gold." (Job 23:3-10)
19. Sometimes We Just Need To Be Still
It is no wonder that we get worn down and feel like we can't go on, with the amount of things we try to pack in our allotted time. Elihu said, "Hearken unto this, O Job: stand still, and consider the wondrous works of God." (Job 37:14) In Exodus 14:13, we read, "And Moses said unto the people, Fear ye not, stand still, and see the salvation of the LORD, which he will shew to you to day: for the Egyptians whom ye have seen to day, ye shall see them again no more for ever." One of my favorite Psalms is, "Be still, and know that I am God: I will be exalted among the heathen, I will be exalted in the earth." (Psalm 46:10) We are told to "stand still" and to "be still" and know God. Being too busy can bring about hard days and the way to make them better is to be still a while, and listen for God's still small voice. After Elijah's victory on Mount Carmel he was exhausted. Jezebel threatened his life and he went alone into the wilderness. An angel fed him and let him sleep and rest a while. Then, the Lord spoke to Elijah in a still small voice. If we want to hear the Lord speak to us in a still small voice, then we need to stand still, and be still.
"9 And he came thither unto a cave, and lodged there; and, behold, the word of the LORD came to him, and he said unto him, What doest thou here, Elijah?
10 And he said, I have been very jealous for the LORD God of hosts: for the children of Israel have forsaken thy covenant, thrown down thine altars, and slain thy prophets with the sword; and I, even I only, am left; and they seek my life, to take it away.
11 And he said, Go forth, and stand upon the mount before the LORD. And, behold, the LORD passed by, and a great and strong wind rent the mountains, and brake in pieces the rocks before the LORD; but the LORD was not in the wind: and after the wind an earthquake; but the LORD was not in the earthquake:
12 And after the earthquake a fire; but the LORD was not in the fire: and after the fire a still small voice.
13 And it was so, when Elijah heard it, that he wrapped his face in his mantle, and went out, and stood in the entering in of the cave. And, behold, there came a voice unto him, and said, What doest thou here, Elijah?" (I Kings 19:9-13)
20. A Daysman To Stretch His Hands To Both God And Man
Job looked for a Savior! Look at the longing Job has to have a daysman to reach His hands between God and man.
"30 If I wash myself with snow water, and make my hands never so clean;
31 Yet shalt thou plunge me in the ditch, and mine own clothes shall abhor me.
32 For he is not a man, as I am, that I should answer him, and we should come together in judgment.
33 Neither is there any daysman betwixt us, that might lay his hand upon us both." (Job 9:30-33)
"O that one might plead for a man with God, as a man pleadeth for his neighbour!" (Job 16:21)
"Surely I would speak to the Almighty, and I desire to reason with God." (Job 13:3)
"Hast thou eyes of flesh? or seest thou as man seeth? Are thy days as the days of man? are thy years as man's days," (Job 10:4-5)
God answered in sending His only begotten Son. "And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, (and we beheld his glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father,) full of grace and truth." (John 1:14) Praise the Lord! We have an Advocate with the Father! When Jesus stretched out His hands on the cross, He was reaching God in heaven and lifting man up from sin.
21. Salvation
I was thinking about these devotionals and I am not sure I stayed true to our topic, "Turning A Bad Day Into A Good Day." I tried to give encouragement from the books of Ruth and Job, but it feels like we are still facing hard days ahead. Our words from Elihu today can turn a whole life around! Look at these instructions, which are very similar to the writings of John in the New Testament.
"26 He shall pray unto God, and he will be favourable unto him: and he shall see his face with joy: for he will render unto man his righteousness.
27 He looketh upon men, and if any say, I have sinned, and perverted that which was right, and it profited me not;
28 He will deliver his soul from going into the pit, and his life shall see the light." (Job 33:26-28)
Salvation gives us true, and everlasting joy! I hope that you prayed to God one day and confessed your sin. Put your trust in Jesus and He will save you and give you everlasting life. "If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness." (I John 1:9)
22. Our Bad Days Will Seem As Nothing
For our closing devotional we see that God answered Job, beginning with His marvelous account of creation, and continuing for several chapters.
"1 Then the LORD answered Job out of the whirlwind, and said,
2 Who is this that darkeneth counsel by words without knowledge?
3 Gird up now thy loins like a man; for I will demand of thee, and answer thou me.
4 Where wast thou when I laid the foundations of the earth? declare, if thou hast understanding.
5 Who hath laid the measures thereof, if thou knowest? or who hath stretched the line upon it?
6 Whereupon are the foundations thereof fastened? or who laid the corner stone thereof;
7 When the morning stars sang together, and all the sons of God shouted for joy?" (Job 38:1-7)
What was Job's response?
"1 Then Job answered the LORD, and said,
2 I know that thou canst do every thing, and that no thought can be withholden from thee.
3 Who is he that hideth counsel without knowledge? therefore have I uttered that I understood not; things too wonderful for me, which I knew not.
4 Hear, I beseech thee, and I will speak: I will demand of thee, and declare thou unto me.
5 I have heard of thee by the hearing of the ear: but now mine eye seeth thee.
6 Wherefore I abhor myself, and repent in dust and ashes." (Job 42:1-6)
When we see how great our Almighty God really is, we will fall on our knees in reverence to our Holy God. "For it is written, As I live, saith the Lord, every knee shall bow to me, and every tongue shall confess to God." (Romans 14:11) We can confess and bow to God while we live and receive everlasting life. When we get to heaven, all of the bad days we had on earth will seem as nothing. Is your name in the book of life?
"11 And I saw a great white throne, and him that sat on it, from whose face the earth and the heaven fled away; and there was found no place for them.
12 And I saw the dead, small and great, stand before God; and the books were opened: and another book was opened, which is the book of life: and the dead were judged out of those things which were written in the books, according to their works.
13 And the sea gave up the dead which were in it; and death and hell delivered up the dead which were in them: and they were judged every man according to their works.
14 And death and hell were cast into the lake of fire. This is the second death.
15 And whosoever was not found written in the book of life was cast into the lake of fire." (Revelation 20:11-15)
Turning A Bad Day
Into A Good Day
