Some people’s lives appear to us to be like green pastures and quiet waters, though that is probably unlikely. Others seem to live in the shadow of suffering and experience what seems to be inordinate amounts of disappointments and challenges. I was thinking about the beauty of resilient faith; Christ shining through the life that is fixed on Him no matter what comes.

I heard two sermons today on the life of Job. If anyone can understand suffering and loss it was Job. His steady faith in the face of suffering is truly a thing of beauty. His 3 friends had much to say as they tried to make sense of his suffering and loss. And then there was his wife. Though troubled by them, he did not lose his steady faith in God.

It is very challenging to know what to say when people are struggling, especially when it is something we have never had to experience. Yet to find ways to simply commend them for remaining fixed on God through it all is perhaps the greatest thing, and often the thing that goes unsaid.

I love Job’s view of suffering and faith, “Shall we accept good from God and not trouble?” Job had a proper view of God which enabled him to view suffering as a mature believer.

Remember that song was released in 2002 by Matt and Beth Redmen.

Blessed be Your name
In the land that is plentiful
Where your streams of abundance flow
Blessed be Your name

And blessed be Your name
When I’m found in the desert place
Though I walk through the wilderness
Blessed be Your name

Every blessing You pour out
I’ll turn back to praise
When the darkness closes in, Lord
Still I will say

Blessed be the name of the Lord
Blessed be Your name
Blessed be the name of the Lord
Blessed be Your glorious name

And blessed be Your name
When the sun’s shining down on me
When the world’s ‘all as it should be’
Blessed be Your name

And blessed be Your name
On the road marked with suffering
Though there’s pain in the offering
Blessed be Your name

If Job could sing, he would have sung this song. We go through seasons where we can sing this easily, other times not quite as easy... but sing it we do.

Dear Father,

We sing our praise to You because You are worthy of it every day not regardless of what I am facing. You are unchanged and faithful. I put my trust in You. I praise You for those people who have shown me time and time again, what resilient faith looks like. I praise You today Father and say thank You.

In Jesus Name,

Amen