What's Going On?

Do you ever wonder what's going on in your life?  Often times when I'm working with people, they are essentially asking the question, "What is God doing?" or "What is His plan?"  We all seem to want to know what is transpiring in the spiritual realm to match up with what we are seeing in this physical realm.  Job asked the same kind of question.

He followed God in all that He did.  He even worked hard to make sure his children walked with God and, if they didn't, he tried to cover that situation as well.  The think is, he did a pretty good job of it.  In fact, Job did so well following God that God was about to select him for an amazing ministry.  Job was about to teach Satan a lesson.


One day the members of the heavenly court came to present themselves before the LORD, and the Accuser, Satan, came with them. "Where have you come from?" the LORD asked Satan. Satan answered the LORD, "I have been patrolling the earth, watching everything that's going on." Then the LORD asked Satan, "Have you noticed My servant Job? He is the finest man in all the earth. He is blameless—a man of complete integrity. He fears God and stays away from evil." Satan replied to the LORD, "Yes, but Job has good reason to fear God. You have always put a wall of protection around him and his home and his property. You have made him prosper in everything he does. Look how rich he is! But reach out and take away everything he has, and he will surely curse You to Your face!" "All right, you may test him," the LORD said to Satan. "Do whatever you want with everything he possesses, but don't harm him physically." So Satan left the LORD's presence.  (Job 1:6-12 NLT)

The LORD gave Satan permission to attack all of Job's possessions, family, and even his friends.  Satan thought he was about to show God just how feeble humans are.  God was about to show Satan that we are made in the image of God.  Job was about to go through a really tough time.

Maybe we tend to ask the question, "Why?" just a little too much.  We want to know what's going on, when we should want to know how to respond.  We really don't need to know why we are going through a particular difficulty or trial.  We just need to know that our reaction to the trial is the one God wants.

Rejoice always, pray continually, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God's will for you in Christ Jesus. (1 Thessalonians 5:16-18 NIV)

I'm not saying that I want to sign up for the same ministry role that Job fulfilled in life.  I do, however, want to rejoice, pray, and give thanks in all circumstances.  When I do, I know that's something God will use.  And really...that's all I need to know.