GOD OF RESTORATION

Olufunmilayo Adekusibe
Mar 7
3 min read

Today’s Reading:

Job 42: 10-17

“When Job prayed for his friends, the LORD restored his fortunes. In fact, the LORD gave him twice as much as before.” (Job 42:10 NLT)

Why do the righteous suffer is one of the most debatable questions in Christendom? No one ever prays to suffer in life but the fact remains that following Jesus requires some level of suffering. Though the scriptures say that if anyone suffers, he should not suffer like a transgressor but suffer justly for that has a reward here and hereafter I Peter 2:20-21. Many are the afflictions of the righteous but God delivers them out of them all Psalms 34:19. Job suffered but not because of his sin for the devil moves God against him. When we are passing through suffering as Christians, we need to examine ourselves whether there is any iniquity in us, after thorough investigation we discover that there is no iniquity then we can trust God for strength and grace to carry through for certainly He will restore us if we do not faint.

Some of the lessons we learn about suffering from the Book of Job are:

The righteous are not exempt from suffering.
Suffering is not necessarily a result of sin.
God has set a protective hedge around the righteous.
God does not send sickness or suffering. It comes from Satan (Luke 13:16; 2 Cor. 12:7).
Satan has some control in the realm of wicked men (the Sabeans and Chaldeans), supernatural disasters (fire from heaven), weather (a great wind), sickness (the boils on Job), and death.
Satan can bring these things on a believer only by God’s permission.
We should view things as coming from the Lord, by His permission, and not from Satan. “The Lord gave, and the Lord has taken away.”
God does not always explain the reason for our suffering.
It is a means by which God develops spiritual graces, such as patience, longsuffering, and humility (Rom. 5:3, 4; John 15:2).
In visiting suffering saints, we should not be judgmental.
Job’s patience in suffering vindicated God and proved Satan to be a false accuser and liar.
It enables the child of God to comfort others with the same type of comfort with which God comforted him or her (2 Cor. 1:4).
It is an assurance of Sonship since God only chastens those whom He loves (Heb. 12:7-11).
God never allows us to be tempted above what we can bear (1 Cor. 10:13).

Despite all that Job went through, God still restored him even more than what he had at the

beginning. What are you also going through in life? Learn from the story of Job and don’t

look for shortcuts for our God is a restorer and he will restore your lost fortunes and your

loved ones will return unto you.

JAMES ALADE

To surrender your life to Christ, say this prayer aloud. “Father, I acknowledge my sin against You. I repent and ask for forgiveness, in the name of Jesus. I surrender to the Lordship of Jesus. By the power of Your Holy Spirit, take control of my heart and lead me in Your path of righteousness. Thank you, Lord.”

If you said the prayer, Congratulations! Prayerfully look for a living church and meet the resident reverend, pastor or priest.