As I read Job today, I was struck by all of the things that Job listed that he did...things like helping the poor and widows, helping orphans, always acting just, encouraging the discouraged...the list goes on. At first, I was totally convicted about how low on my priority list these things are everyday. I go through my life trying to accomplish the things that are on my to-do list and miss so many another eternal things I could be doing. As I was praying about this, another thought hit me. I realized that Job spent this entire time talking about how he was completely righteous in God's eyes...and he was. But I think his point was that he was feeling so frustrated because of the horrible things that had happened to him, and how little he deserved it. Although I have never been through anything even close to all of the tragedies that struck Job, I have had times in my life where bad things have happened. I remember about 5 years ago when I was going through some major health problems and some other struggles, and I was having a hard time. I grew up in church and had always tried to be as righteous as possible. When I hit this low point in my life, I ended up angry at God. Through growing up in church, I always thought essentially that if you do the right thing, God will bless you and life will be good. But God is God. He is so big and so on another level than I am, that I could never comprehend or understand. It was just the reminder that I needed that bad and horrible things happen to everybody. And we just plain aren't in control. Period. And I will be honest and say that many times that fact totally freaks me out. But this is where my faith must come in to help me trust that God is good. He is not safe, but He is GOOD. And God did take care of Job, just like He will take care of me.

Lord, help me to trust in your goodness today. Give me the faith that I need to believe Romans 8:28, "All things work for the good of those who love him and are called according to His purpose."