“And where is now my hope? As for my hope, who shall see it?” – Job 17:15 (KJV).
We often face situations and circumstances that try to rubbish our faith, hope and tenacity. Life on earth is not always fair; it confronts us with delays, disappointments and unfulfilled aspirations. Wishes do not always come through like we desire. Plans do not always work out like we want, and expectations are seldom realized as at scheduled in our diaries. All these could lead to loss of hope and despair in life. “Hope deferred makes the heart sick, but when the desire comes, it is a tree of life” – Proverbs 13:12 (NKJV).
Job had his seasons of contradiction. It was a time of trouble, calamity and affliction. Rather than see his family, health and business flourish as promised in the scriptures, Job saw the opposite. He saw everything that he laboured for and everything that made him happy crash and crumble. It was like everything, everyone and even God were against him. Instead of things working to strengthen his joy, hope and faith, they all turned otherwise.
At first, it must have looked like a dream but over time, it became clear that all these were stack and painful realities that Job had to contend with. He must have tried severally to wish them away but to no avail. He must have looked for scriptures to hold unto in order to keep his hope alive, but the challenges and trials drowned his hope. The friends that should strengthen his faith and help to keep his hope alive instead helped to kill his hope of deliverance. Nobody was there for him; his wife could not help the matter because she had since lost every trace of hope.
Against all odds, Job still believed that things will turn around for good. At a time in the midst of his trials, as his friends brought accusations, guilt and condemnation on him, hope gave way to despair, frustration and discouragement set in. The light went off and darkness set in. Job lost hope and so could not see any good in life but only death, corruption and disappointment. The attack on his mind by his friends did him more harm than the loss of his possessions and health. The scripture says we should guard our mind with all diligence for out of it flows the issues of life.
Prayer: Oh Lord, help me to guard my heart always in Jesus name.
Rev. Vincent Diolu