“As for me, I know that my Redeemer lives, and at the last He will                                         take His stand on the earth.” Job 19:25

Upright and righteous Job sat in a heap of dust and ashes — physically, emotionally, financially, and spiritually. The fire of satanic adversity had all but destroyed everything around him in an attempt to obliterate his faith, and would have taken his very life, save the forbearing hand of God. Not only did he feel like God was at war with him, but he had been smitten relationally and his very presence was repugnant to his nearest and dearest.

Job can empathize with ‘rock bottom.’ There are some of you who have hit ‘rock bottom’ only to realize that rock bottom has a hole and there is still yet further to go. You, like Job, have bemoaned from your mess, “He breaks me…” (Job 19:10). But in the middle of his ashes, when it looked like the embers of hope had all but gone out, there it was — a flicker of faith, “I know that my Redeemer lives” — and the Holy Spirit went to work. Faith is the only kindling God needs to ignite the hearth of ‘grace.’ The ‘Redeemer’ he was speaking of was the promised Messiah, Jesus Christ, who would come and complete the work of redemption on Calvary’s Cross when He said, “It is finished.” Job knew his ‘friends’ wouldn’t get the last say in his circumstance… and yours won’t either. Your marriage, your family, your job, and your reputation might get caught in the crossfire, but it’s your faith (in Jesus Christ and Him Crucified) that Satan is after. When you’ve done all you can, stand! And remember this — what the fire of adversity doesn’t destroy, it purifies. Keep trusting Jesus!

In the dust of His feet,

Sunni Hoffman