October 17 - Good People Have Bad Days

 Read today’s texts first: Job 1,2; Acts 6,7

MAXIMize YOUR DAY

The faith and peace that persist during really bad days
are miraculous and powerful and convincing.

Today’s readings share another common theme – good, God-fearing people can have really bad days (also weeks, months and years!). Job experienced one blow after another. Four bearers of bad news, talking over each other in their excitement to report Job’s worst day ever – Job’s oxen and donkeys taken by a neighbouring tribe and his servants killed, his sheep and shepherds struck by random lightning, his camels raided by another tribe who also killed those servants, and, oh yeah, a roof collapsed in a bizarre windstorm, killing his seven sons and three daughters!  Job’s response – The Lord gives and the Lord takes away.  Blessed be the name of the Lord (1:21). When his own body was ravaged by painful boils, from head to toe, Job encouraged his wife – Shall we indeed accept good things from God and not accept adversity? (2:10).

It might be hard to believe there could be a worse day than Job’s but Stephen’s story in Acts 6 and 7 may top it.  This wise and wonderful man of God was chosen to care for the Gentile widows (6:1-5), performed miracles in his service to God (6:8), and preached a brilliant sermon that traced the legacy of Christ through the Old Testament stories.  For that, he was dragged before the Jewish Council, accused falsely and publicly stoned.  With rocks being hurled at him, he finds enough peace to look up to heaven and respond just like Jesus did at His crucifixion – Lord, do not hold this sin against them (7:60).

A few years ago on this day I recounted a testimony of great miracles that happened through a young woman from our church who God sent on a mission to Belize.  The week before we heard another testimony from a godly man in our church, married with two young boys, who was in the middle of a painful battle with brain cancer, with no miracle of healing to report.  His words were similar to Job’s and Stephen’s and they were as much an encouragement to our congregation as the stories of great miracles.  The faith and peace that persist during really bad days are miraculous and powerful and convincing. 

“Lord, thank you for the many good days and years I’ve enjoyed serving You, but help me to continue praising You when the inevitable bad days really challenge my faith!”