One day I was talking with a friend about some things I was walking through. She made a statement to me that was so profound. We were talking about Job. She said, when Job’s friends questioned as to why this could be happening to him, God didn’t answer the why. Instead, God answered with who.
Many times, we go through seasons of difficulty. Seasons of loss. Seasons where everything seems to go wrong and no matter what we do, say or pray, things don’t seem to change – at least not when we want them to.
I don’t know about you, but when I walk through seasons like this, sometimes I want to figure out why. Why is all this happening? Why can’t I get a breakthrough? What am I doing wrong? Where am I missing it?
There came a time in Job’s life when he seemed to have the same questions, and his friends were eager to tell him why all of it was happening.
One friend said God was correcting him. Bruising him and wounding him. Another said he had erred in some way. One friend told him if he would seek God, God would come through for him. Another told him to get rid of iniquity. In other words, he must have sinned. One friend said his own words were causing the hinderance to breakthrough.
Have you ever been in a season of attacks when your friends were eager to tell you what you are doing wrong? Or what must you have done to open a door to the enemy? I know I have. But sometimes we go through these times NOT because we have done anything wrong but simply because the thief comes to steal, kill and destroy. I don’t have the answers to why these things happen or why breakthrough doesn’t come when we want them to. I wish I did. But I do know this, God is faithful. And, He is a covenant keeping God.
Remember, regardless of what Job’s friends said, God said Job was blameless. Perhaps, just perhaps, He is saying the same thing about you.
So, after all the talk and reasonings of Jobs friends, God speaks. But God doesn’t say why it happened or why it is ongoing. Instead, God reminds Job and his friends who He is. God reminds Job of His power and might.
He doesn’t answer why – He answers who.
I don’t know what you are going through today, but I do know this.
If you are facing sickness, He is still that God that heals you.
If you are facing financial problems, He is still the God that sent Jesus to the cross, took your poverty and lack and gave you prosperity.
If you are facing family issues – He is the God who restores all things for you.
He is the God who has a good plan for you – a plan to prosper you and not to harm you.
Let me remind you a little bit of who He is through some of the names of God.
He is Yahweh – the self-existent One.
He is Adonai – the Lord over all. The King of Kings.
He is Yahweh-Rohi – the Lord our Shepherd.
He is Yahweh-Shammah – The Lord who is present.
He is Yahweh-Rapha – The Lord our healer.
He is Jehovah Jireh – The Lord will provide. Jesus Christ said that Father cares for us and we never need to worry about provision. He is our source of life, in every way.
He is Jehovah Shalom – The Lord is peace. He is our shelter and our shield.
He is Yahweh-Ghmolah – The God of Recompense.
He is Elohim – God is creator, powerful and mighty, Lord of lords. He is the Lord Most High, stronger and mightier than anyone or anything.
He is El-Elyon – The most high God. There is none above Him.
He is El-Gibhor – Mighty God. The Lord is mighty to save. His arm is not too short.
My friends, I don’t know what you are facing but God is still who He says He is. When you are tempted to ask why or when you are feeling condemned at what you did or haven’t done – remember this. You are the righteousness of God in Christ Jesus. God has not changed. What He promised He will do, just hold steady. Stop asking why and begin to declare who. The enemy won’t stay around long if you begin to declare the names of God and who He is in your life. Fight back with the WHO of your mighty God.
