08172024 Lifelong Favor

Dear Missionary Lady,

Greetings in the name of the God of favor. Mankind would be doomed without the favor of God, but from our very beginning and continuing even through the worst of times, God bestows His favor.

In the midst of his struggles, Job recognized this concept. In chapter 10, he gives an interesting description of the formation of his being. I believe that verses 8-11 all describe Job’s formation in the womb. He begins in verse 8 by saying that God's “hands have made me and fashioned me.” He then gives three pictures of what that fashioning was like. In verse 9, it was like molding clay. In verse 10, it seems to have to do with the pouring of milk or cheese into a mold. In verse 11, it has to do with building the musculoskeletal system and clothing it with skin.

Job had no doubt that God had made him, and he rested in that obvious care of God at his beginning. Job also recognized that God's care for him did not end after he was born. As he describes his life, Job says, “Thou hast granted me life and favour, and thy visitation hath preserved my spirit” (Job 10:12).

These are somewhat remarkable words coming from a man in Job’s circumstances. His current state does not look like favor, and his very preservation was in question. Nevertheless, Job recognized that this was God's habitual treatment of him throughout his life. He saw that God had showed favor to him and had preserved him.

Job’s concern (or complaint) is that the time of God's care and preservation seems to be past. It seems as if God is now destroying His work (v. 8). It seems that Job is on the verge of soon returning to dust (v. 9). Even if that is the case, Job still makes this wonderful declaration of recognition that God has crowned his life with favor and that it is only God's intervention that has preserved him to this point.

This verse seems much in keeping with Job’s statement in chapter one: “The LORD gave and the LORD has taken away. Blessed be the name of the LORD” (1:21). Job knew that all the good he had ever received, which was considerable, had come from the hand of God.

This is a beautiful statement from Job in the midst of his intense trial. His statement and its motivating attitude are an encouragement and a challenge to us. Even when life does not seem that great, it is wise to remember that God has been intricately involved from the very beginning of our lives. He carefully formed us, He has favored us with His blessing, and He has preserved us until the present.

Sometimes in the midst of trouble, this is the very thought that we need. We simply need to remember what God has done so far. We need to remember that we are nothing without Him. We need to remember that He has given us everything that we have ever had. We need to remember His lifelong care.

Praise God that He does care for us! He cares even when we doubt. He cares even when we fail to perceive His care. He cares during our very worst moments. He cares when no one else seems to be aware or when the compassion of others fails. Job did not know what his end would be; likewise, we also do not know the outcome. We can, however, rest in the sure knowledge that God does care and that He will work out His plan in the lives of His children whom he has so carefully cared for until now. His care will not stop.

May you rest in His care this week, being assured of it in your heart regardless of what fills your vision. May God’s care be like a warm hug that envelops and comforts you.

Love in Christ,

Peggy Holt

member at Open Door Baptist Church in Lebanon, PA

Archived letters: www.dearmissionarylady.blogspot.com.