IS GOD STILL WORTHY?
Is God still worthy when life falls apart? Through the example of Job, discover why God's worthiness is not based on our circumstances but on His unchanging character and sovereign rule.
“He said, ‘Naked I came from my mother’s womb, And naked I shall return there. The Lord gave and the Lord has taken away. Blessed be the name of the Lord.’” (Job 1:21)
Many people know these words from the book of Job, but they often focus on what Job lost instead of what he believed about God.
In a single day, Job lost his livestock, his servants, and all ten of his children. Everything that had filled his life with joy disappeared almost instantly. Yet instead of cursing God, Job fell to the ground and worshiped.
Why?
Because Job understood something that many people today have forgotten.
God is God. Everything else in the story flows from that simple truth.
We live in a culture that often acts as though God owes us something. We expect good health, financial security, long life, and happiness. When those things disappear, many people begin asking, “Why would God do this to me?”
Job asked a different question. He recognized that everything he had was a gift from God to begin with.
James reminds us, “Every good thing given and every perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of lights” (James 1:17).
Our next breath is a gift. Our family is a gift. Our possessions are gifts. Even life itself is a gift.
The truth is, nothing we have truly belongs to us.
“The earth is the Lord’s, and all it contains, The world, and those who dwell in it.” (Psalm 24:1)
We are not owners. We are stewards. Everything we possess has been entrusted to us by God for a season.
Job understood that. That is why he could say, “The Lord gave and the Lord has taken away.”
Even more remarkable is what he said next.
“Blessed be the name of the Lord.”
His circumstances changed, but God's character did not.
One of the hardest lessons in life is realizing that God does not owe us an explanation. When you read the rest of the book of Job, you discover that God never tells Job why he suffered. Instead, God reveals who He is.
Through a series of questions, God reminds Job that He alone created the heavens, formed the earth, commands the seas, and rules over all creation. The message is clear. God is sovereign, whether we understand His ways or not.
That truth is still difficult for us today.
We like answers. We want explanations. But faith is not built on having all the answers. Faith is built on trusting the One who does.
There is another verse that echoes Job's words.
“For we have brought nothing into the world, so we cannot take anything out of it either.” (1 Timothy 6:7)
We entered this world with nothing. We will leave with nothing except our relationship with Jesus Christ.
The question is not whether God is worthy when life is easy. The real question is whether He is worthy when life is painful, confusing, and heartbreaking.
Job answered that question long ago.
“The Lord gave and the Lord has taken away. Blessed be the name of the Lord.”
He was worthy then.
He is worthy now.
And He always will be.
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“What I write is not for everyone, but what I write is meant for someone.” – Dean Butler
This work may be shared for ministry or personal use, but please credit the author when doing so. © Dean Butler | The Other Side of Amen | All rights reserved.
