From Blessed to Broken to Restored

Every Sunday our amazing Lamplighter’s Class teacher blesses us with Bible lessons that open our eyes to the truths of God’s Word. Right now we are learning about God’s love and are understanding why bad things often happen to good people — like with Job.

“In the land of Uz there lived a man whose name was Job. This man was BLAMELESS and UPRIGHT; he feared God and SHUNNED EVIL. He had seven sons and three daughters, and he owned seven thousand sheep, three thousand camels, five hundred yoke of oxen and five hundred donkeys, and had a large number of servants. He was the greatest man among all the people of the East.” Job 1:1-3

Doesn’t that sound so heavenly perfect? Imagine living a life where everything seems perfectly in place. That was Job. He was blameless and upright; he feared God and shunned evil. He had a beautiful family, abundant livestock, countless servants, and a reputation as the greatest man among all the people of the East?

But then, a conversation took place in the heavenly realm that would change everything. Satan appeared before God, questioning the sincerity of Job’s faith. “Of course he worships you,” Satan implied. “You’ve blessed him beyond measure. Take it all away, and he’ll curse you to your face.” Surprisingly, God allowed Satan to test Job, confident in Job’s integrity.

What followed was unimaginable. Job lost his wealth, his children, his health. His friends showed up, not to comfort but to accuse him, convinced that Job’s suffering must be due to some hidden sin. Job’s wife even suggested he curse God and die. Yet, in his pain, Job declared, “Though He slay me, yet will I hope in Him.” (Job 13:15)

The struggle was real. Job questioned, pleaded, even lamented his birth. But he never cursed God. Through it all, Job maintained his faith, holding onto the hope that somehow, God was still good.

Finally, God spoke, reminding Job of His sovereignty, His unmatched power, and His intimate knowledge of creation. Job’s response was humble repentance: “Surely I spoke of things I did not understand, things too wonderful for me to know.” (Job 42:3)

And then came restoration. God blessed Job abundantly, restoring his health, giving him twice as much as he had before, and blessing him with more children. Job’s story isn’t just one of loss; it’s one of redemption. It’s a story that reminds us that even when life feels unbearably hard, God is still at work, faithful to restore and redeem.

Whatever season we are in — whether loss or gain — let us be like Job, holding fast to God’s faithfulness. Because, God always writes the final chapter!