Lighthouse Community Church

If you were to be laid off from your job, be diagnosed with cancer, lose a loved one or receive the most disappointing news you could imagine, would God be glorified through your reaction?

The Old Testament tells us of a man named Job who suffered through many trials and tragedies in his life.  Job lost his sons and daughters when their house collapsed in a storm.  He lost his livestock when enemies stole them and killed his servants.   Job lost his personal comfort when his body became covered with sores.   Through all of these difficulties, Job could have turned against God.  He could have cursed God.  He could have turned to sinful pleasures in an attempt to escape his circumstances, but Job chose to glorify God in the way when the going got tough.

Job 27:5-6 tells us that Job declared, "Till I die I will not put away my integrity from me.  I hold fast my righteousness and will not let it go."  An earlier chapter in the book of Job tells us that Job lived a righteous life before all of the trials and these verses show us that he was committed to continuing this righteous living even in the midst of the worst time of his life.   How might he have done this?  My guess is that Job probably spent time meditating upon God's commands and the words God gave to his people (23:12).  He probably spent a significant time in prayer, asking God to deliver him from these trials, but also asking God for the grace to live in a way that brought him glory.  I believe that Job was sure to purge his mind of any unrighteous thought or desire that popped up.   Holding fast to righteousness means not dwelling on those thoughts or desires and not allowing them to develop into sin.

If you are going through tough times, I pray that you will glorify God when the going gets tough.  I pray that you will seek God's grace so that you will not put your integrity to the side.  I pray that you will seek God's grace so that you might live righteously.