“Rejoice in hope, be patient in tribulation, be constant in prayer.” (Romans 12:12, ESV)
When we think of the man Job, the first word that usually comes to mind is suffering. It is true. As we read his story, we learn that Job endured a season of intense suffering. But when we really look at his life, we discover he was a man whose life was marked by prayer. It was the foundation of his life.
-
Job prayed for his children.
Rising early in the morning, Job would offer sacrifices to the Lord on behalf of his ten children. He prayed earnestly that they would not sin and curse God in their hearts. This was the cry of a father who cared about the spiritual condition of his children. Prayer was an established habit for him, not an occasional happening. “Thus Job did continually” (Job 1:5, ESV).
-
Job prayed when he was overwhelmed by grief and loss.
Although he lost almost everything, including his children, in a single day, he still bowed and worshiped God. “Then Job arose and tore his robe and shaved his head and fell on the ground and worshiped” (Job 1:20, ESV). Later, when his health was also compromised, he still held onto God.
-
Job prayed when he didn’t understand the “whys” of life.
Job never knew the reason so many things happened in his life in such rapid succession. Nothing in the Bible suggests that God ever revealed this to him. Yet Job trusted God to bring him through these trials as pure as tested gold. “But he knows the way that I take; when he has tried me, I shall come out as gold” (Job 23:10, ESV).
-
Job prayed for his friends.
God was not pleased with the way Job’s three friends had spoken and told Job to pray for his friends. Job obeyed the Lord and did not hesitate to pray for them. God blessed Job by restoring the things that had been taken from his life during this time of suffering.
“And the LORD restored the fortunes of Job, when he had prayed for his friends. And the LORD gave Job twice as much as he had before” (Job 42:10, ESV).
-
Job prayed in repentance.
He humbled himself before God in repentance. He did not want to lose his integrity.
“I had heard of you by the hearing of the ear, but now my eye sees you; Therefore I despise myself, and repent in dust and ashes.” (Job 42:5-6, ESV)
JOB’S PRAYER HABITS
The more we look at the life of Job, the more apparent it becomes that he prayed about every part of his life. When things were going well, he prayed. When he was concerned about his adult children, he prayed. When his world turned upside down, he prayed. When God said to pray for his friends, he prayed.
DEEP TRUST
Regardless of the many difficult circumstances he faced, Job’s trust in God never wavered. He placed his complete confidence in the Lord. Even in the face of intense suffering, Job boldly declared:
“Though he slay me, yet will I trust in him” (Job 13:14, KJV).
In turn, God demonstrated His confidence toward Job. When God asked Satan, “Have you considered my servant Job,” He knew Job’s godly character. He was a man of strong integrity, blameless, and upright. (See Job 2:3.)
Job was brutally honest with God, even to the point of despising the day he was born (Job 3:3). But through his journey of suffering, Job learned that God can handle our questions, our anger, our desire for justice when falsely accused. God will not always answer every question and every prayer the way we feel He should. But the Lord will always be completely trustworthy even in our most difficult experiences.
So, when tough things happen in your life—and they will—just keep believing, keep trusting, and keep praying. God was faithful to Job and He will be faithful to you as well.
“Pray without ceasing.” (I Thessalonians 5:17, ESV)
Devotion by Mary Loudermilk
