“And the LORD restored Job’s losses when he prayed for his friends. Indeed the LORD gave Job twice as much as he had before.” Job 42:10 NKJ
“Now the LORD blessed the latter days of Job more than his beginning;” Job 42:12a NKJ
Have you ever gone through a season of life or many seasons where it seemed that all you experienced was tragedy or loss? Have you ever read the story of Job and identified with his sufferings? When you have gone through times of trial, where you suffered loss, have you ever told yourself you would never recover? In those times did people you trusted hurt you or walk away from you? These scenarios can be so overwhelming that finding hope for a better tomorrow can be almost impossible to envision. But what I want you to know is that IN Christ you can recover and when you do; your increase will out way your losses in abundance!
On the Cross Jesus died for the very pains and losses you have suffered so that through His resurrection you could be filled to overflowing with the life giving fullness of God in every area of life! Bad theology teaches that God still operates like He did in the days of Job and that God gives the devil permission to attack us or God strips everything from us in order to teach us a lesson or humble us. This is an absolute falsehood because if this was true, then God is a liar and He is unstable in His ways.
There is only one who comes to steal, kill, or destroy and he is the devil. Remember Jesus’ words in John 10:10, “The thief does not come except to steal, and to kill, and to destroy. I have come that they may have life, and that they may have it more abundantly.” Some translations say to the full but the important truth to remember here is that God doesn’t come to steal, kill, or destroy, only the devil does. Speaking of the devil Jesus said, “He was a murderer from the beginning, and does not stand in the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he speaks a lie, he speaks from his own resources, for he is a liar and the father of it.” (John 8:44b) God only gives us the fullness of Himself IN Christ Jesus and that is above anything we can think or imagine!
Paul’s prayer for the saints in Ephesians 3:19-20 confirms this truth. He says, “to know the love of Christ which passes knowledge; that you may be filled with all the fullness of God. Now to Him who is able to do exceedingly abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that works in us,” Some people counter this truth and tell us that God doesn’t operate this way with us and in Colossians 2:8-9 Paul says, “Beware lest anyone cheat you through philosophy and empty deceit, according to the tradition of men, according to the basic principles of the world, and not according to Christ. For in Him dwells all the fullness of the Godhead bodily; and you are complete in Him, who is the head of all principality and power.”
It is so important for us to renew our minds to the truth of God’s Word that says we are complete IN Christ because we are so susceptible to believing falsehood about God; especially in our times of weakness when we have suffered loss. Well intending people come to us and try to define our situation by saying things like Job’s friends did when they told him there must be something wrong with him, or they say it must be God’s will or He wouldn’t have allowed this. But when our minds are fixed on Christ and the finished work of the Cross, we will not accept a lie as truth. We will know that we are complete IN Christ and lacking nothing and that everything we have lost was recovered IN Him at His resurrection.
This understanding encourages us in the faith and inspires us to hold fast to hope in the midst of tragedy or loss. Sometimes God restores the very things we have lost and other times He gives even more than we could have thought or imagined. But the important truth to embrace is that He is at work performing His Word in our lives and He is bringing increase in all areas where we have suffered loss. God is a good God who gives good gifts to His children when we ask. (Matthew 7:7-11) Christ IN us as our hope of glory works in us to renew our hope in the truth of God’s Word. He is always at work increasing us in abundance; spiritually, physically, mentally, emotionally, relationally, and financially.
As we decrease in our humanistic and limited knowledge of Him and increase in the knowledge of Him as taught by the Holy Spirit; we are filled with joyful expectation at what He can do in our lives to manifest the fullness of the full life promised to us. Sometimes we do not understand what God is doing in us, in our times of trial, but if we understand that what He is doing is good and abundant we will not lose hope in the midst of it! My prayer for you today is that you will come to a better understanding of who Christ is IN you and who you are IN Him, so that you will be empowered in your faith as you hope and believe for the increase God has promised you, in abundance.
Prayer: Lord, let me come to an understanding of You as my provider of fullness in life. When I am facing tragedy and loss remind me of Your faithfulness and love for me so that I will not succumb to the pressure to doubt Your Word. I believe by faith that You are working to restore me to an even greater state of abundance than I had before in all areas. I put my hope and trust in You and today I proclaim Philippians 4:4-7 that says, “Rejoice in the Lord always. Again I will say, rejoice! Let your gentleness be known to all men. The Lord is at hand. Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God; and the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.” Amen
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