But when I looked for good, evil came to me; and when I waited for light, then came darkness. Job 30:26

There are times in the life of nearly everyone in which everything that can go wrong does go wrong. One looks for good things and everything good appears to be just out of reach. All that is seen or felt is pain and suffering, physically, emotionally, economically and socially. Everything is dark with bad, and hope appears to be elusive and gone. Waiting and hoping for something good appears to be a wasted effort of time.

Job states that as he is looking for good only evil arrived and when looking for light there was only darkness.

Trouble hits the lives of people on and off all over the world. Difficulties surmount to levels that appears to crush a person under the weight of it. Many in the world will throw the towel in and give up, thinking that there is nothing left good in the world for them.

Believers are also not immune to troubles of this level. It can overwhelm and crush some believers, because they lose sight of God and begin to forget all of His promises. Part of this is because some in the church have said that once one becomes a believer everything will be easy and successful in God.

Jesus, however, had said something different that there would be trouble in this world. Paul said that believers would be knocked down and hard pressed. But both said that God will overcome. There is a hope that the world does not have.

Every problem in this world is only temporary and very light in view of eternity with God. As Job cried out, he did not see what God was doing behind the scenes. Believers must also keep in mind that God is doing a great work in their lives behind the scenes despite the problems.

You will have days, weeks, months, even years that are filled with trouble and difficulties. You may be seeking for good and light and all you see is evil and darkness.

Do not give up. Continue to believe in God. He is in control and in the end, you will have eternal life with no more suffering or pain. No matter how great the problems are, God is with you and will save you. Hold on to the hope you have in Jesus.

Today I pray that you will know Jesus as your Lord and Savior; that you will look to God in good and bad times; that you will trust God with all of your life; that you will not lose hope in Christ’s salvation promised to you; and that God will give you strength in times of trouble and pain.

Photo: Sasha Matic by Unsplash