When the Lord Speaks in Our Storms

Job 38:1–11 NIV

1 Then the Lord spoke to Job out of the storm. He said: 2 “Who is this that obscures my plans with words without knowledge? 3 Brace yourself like a man; I will question you, and you shall answer me. 4 “Where were you when I laid the earth’s foundation? Tell me, if you understand. 5 Who marked off its dimensions? Surely you know! Who stretched a measuring line across it? 6 On what were its footings set, or who laid its cornerstone— 7 while the morning stars sang together and all the angels shouted for joy? 8 “Who shut up the sea behind doors when it burst forth from the womb, 9 when I made the clouds its garment and wrapped it in thick darkness, 10 when I fixed limits for it and set its doors and bars in place, 11 when I said, ‘This far you may come and no farther; here is where your proud waves halt’?

When the Lord Speaks in Our Storms

INTRODUCTION

MY BROTHERS AND SISTER…,

IT IS INDEED A BLESSING TO BE STANDING BEFORE YOU TODAY,

TO BE SHARING IN THIS SACRED SPACE,

THIS SANCTUARY WHERE WE GATHER TO SEEK SOLACE,

TO FIND STRENGTH, TO NURTURE OUR FAITH, AND TO COMMUNE WITH THE LORD.

TODAY, WE ARE GOING TO TURN OUR HEARTS AND MINDS TO A POWERFUL PASSAGE FROM THE BOOK OF JOB,

A BOOK THAT SPEAKS TO US ABOUT FAITH, ABOUT TRUST, AND ABOUT THE PRESENCE OF GOD IN THE MIDST OF OUR TRIALS.

IN THIS PASSAGE, WE HEAR THE VOICE OF GOD, SPEAKING OUT OF THE STORM….SOME VERSIONS CALL IT A WHIRLWIND..

CHALLENGING JOB, REMINDING HIM OF HIS OMNIPOTENCE, HIS SOVEREIGNTY, HIS MAJESTY.

AND TRUTH BE TOLD….IT IS THIS SAME VOICE THAT SPEAKS TO US TODAY, THAT SPEAKS TO US IN OUR TRIALS,

IN OUR TRIBULATIONS, IN OUR MOMENTS OF DOUBT AND DESPAIR.

AS WE GLEAN FROM OUR MAIN POINTS - MAY WE OPEN OUR HEARTS AND MINDS TO THE LESSONS THAT THIS PASSAGE HAS FOR US.

LIKE JOB….I PRAY THAT WE FIND THE COURAGE TO LISTEN TO THE VOICE OF GOD….

TO TRUST IN HIS UNFAILING LOVE,

AND TO REST IN HIS UNCHANGING GRACE.

NOW, LET'S TURN OUR ATTENTION TO OUR FIRST POINT, GOD'S PRESENCE IN PERIL.

GOD'S PRESENCE IN PERIL

WHEN WE THINK ABOUT THE BOOK OF JOB, WE OFTEN THINK ABOUT SUFFERING.

JOB WAS A MAN WHO HAD EVERYTHING - WEALTH, FAMILY, HEALTH - AND THEN, IN A BLINK OF AN EYE, LOST IT ALL.

BUT IN THE MIDST OF HIS SUFFERING, IN THE MIDST OF HIS DESPAIR, JOB WAS NOT ALONE.

GOD WAS THERE, PRESENT IN HIS PERIL.

GOD'S PRESENCE IN OUR LIVES IS NOT DEPENDENT ON OUR CIRCUMSTANCES.

HE IS NOT A FAIR-WEATHER FRIEND WHO ONLY SHOWS UP WHEN THINGS ARE GOING WELL.

HE IS THERE IN THE GOOD TIMES, YES, BUT HE IS ALSO THERE IN THE BAD TIMES.

HE IS THERE WHEN WE ARE ON THE MOUNTAINTOP, AND HE IS THERE WHEN WE ARE IN THE VALLEY.

HE IS THERE WHEN WE ARE REJOICING, AND HE IS THERE WHEN WE ARE WEEPING.

AND I DON’T KNOW ABOUT YOU….BUT THIS IS A COMFORTING THOUGHT FOR ME…

THAT NO MATTER WHAT WE ARE GOING THROUGH, NO MATTER HOW DIFFICULT OUR CIRCUMSTANCES, WE ARE NOT ALONE.

GOD IS WITH US.

HE IS OUR REFUGE AND STRENGTH, A VERY PRESENT HELP IN TROUBLE.

BUT GOD'S PRESENCE IN OUR LIVES IS NOT JUST ABOUT COMFORT.

IT'S NOT JUST ABOUT HAVING A SHOULDER TO LEAN ON OR A HAND TO HOLD.

IT'S ALSO ABOUT TRANSFORMATION.

IT'S ABOUT GROWTH.

IT'S ABOUT BECOMING MORE LIKE CHRIST.

WHEN WE GO THROUGH TRIALS, WHEN WE FACE DIFFICULTIES,

WE ARE GIVEN AN OPPORTUNITY TO GROW IN OUR FAITH,

TO DEEPEN OUR TRUST IN GOD, TO BECOME MORE LIKE CHRIST.

AND IF I CAN BE REAL WITH YOU THIS MORNING…..IT’S NOT AN EASY PROCESS.

IT'S NOT A COMFORTABLE PROCESS.

BUT IT IS A NECESSARY PROCESS.

IT IS A PROCESS THAT SHAPES US, THAT MOLDS US, THAT REFINES US.

IN THE MIDST OF HIS SUFFERING, JOB WAS TRANSFORMED.

HE WAS NOT THE SAME MAN AT THE END OF THE BOOK AS HE WAS AT THE BEGINNING.

HE WAS A MAN WHO HAD BEEN THROUGH THE FIRE, A MAN WHO HAD BEEN REFINED,

A MAN WHO HAD BEEN TRANSFORMED.

AND THIS TRANSFORMATION WAS NOT IN SPITE OF GOD'S PRESENCE IN HIS PERIL, BUT BECAUSE OF IT.

GOD'S PRESENCE IN OUR LIVES IS NOT JUST ABOUT COMFORT AND CONSOLATION.

IT'S ABOUT TRANSFORMATION AND GROWTH.

IT'S ABOUT BECOMING MORE LIKE CHRIST.

BUT THERE'S MORE TO IT THAN THAT.

GOD'S PRESENCE IN OUR LIVES IS ALSO ABOUT REVELATION.

IT'S ABOUT REVEALING WHO GOD IS, ABOUT REVEALING HIS CHARACTER, HIS NATURE, HIS HEART.

IN THE MIDST OF HIS SUFFERING, JOB HAD A REVELATION OF GOD.

HE SAW GOD IN A WAY THAT HE HAD NEVER SEEN HIM BEFORE.

HE SAW GOD'S POWER, HIS MAJESTY, HIS SOVEREIGNTY.

HE SAW GOD'S WISDOM, HIS JUSTICE, HIS RIGHTEOUSNESS.

HE SAW GOD'S LOVE, HIS MERCY, HIS GRACE.

THIS REVELATION OF GOD WAS NOT SOMETHING THAT JOB COULD HAVE HAD APART FROM HIS SUFFERING.

IT WAS NOT SOMETHING THAT HE COULD HAVE HAD APART FROM GOD'S PRESENCE IN HIS PERIL.

IT WAS A REVELATION THAT WAS BORN OUT OF HIS TRIALS, OUT OF HIS DIFFICULTIES, OUT OF HIS SUFFERING.

GOD'S PRESENCE IN OUR LIVES IS NOT JUST ABOUT COMFORT AND CONSOLATION.

IT'S NOT JUST ABOUT TRANSFORMATION AND GROWTH.

IT'S ABOUT REVELATION.

IT'S ABOUT REVEALING WHO GOD IS, ABOUT REVEALING HIS CHARACTER, HIS NATURE, HIS HEART.

GOD'S PRESENCE IN OUR LIVES IS ABOUT HOPE.

IT'S ABOUT THE HOPE THAT WE HAVE IN CHRIST, THE HOPE THAT IS AN ANCHOR FOR OUR SOULS, THE HOPE THAT IS A LIGHT IN THE DARKNESS,

Hebrews 6:19 NKJV

This hope we have as an anchor of the soul, both sure and steadfast, and which enters the Presence behind the veil,

THE HOPE THAT IS A SONG IN THE NIGHT.

IN THE MIDST OF HIS SUFFERING, JOB HAD HOPE.

HE HAD HOPE BECAUSE HE KNEW THAT GOD WAS WITH HIM.

HE HAD HOPE BECAUSE HE KNEW THAT GOD WAS FOR HIM.

HE HAD HOPE BECAUSE HE KNEW THAT GOD WAS WORKING ALL THINGS TOGETHER FOR HIS GOOD.

THIS HOPE WAS NOT SOMETHING THAT JOB COULD HAVE HAD APART FROM GOD'S PRESENCE IN HIS PERIL.

IT WAS A HOPE THAT WAS BORN OUT OF HIS TRIALS, OUT OF HIS DIFFICULTIES, OUT OF HIS SUFFERING.

IT WAS A HOPE THAT WAS ROOTED IN HIS FAITH, IN HIS TRUST, IN HIS RELATIONSHIP WITH GOD.

GOD'S PRESENCE IN OUR LIVES IS NOT JUST ABOUT COMFORT AND CONSOLATION.

IT'S NOT JUST ABOUT TRANSFORMATION AND GROWTH. IT'S NOT JUST ABOUT REVELATION. IT'S ABOUT HOPE. IT'S ABOUT THE HOPE THAT WE HAVE IN CHRIST, THE HOPE THAT IS AN ANCHOR FOR OUR SOULS, THE HOPE THAT IS A LIGHT IN THE DARKNESS, THE HOPE THAT IS A SONG IN THE NIGHT.

SO, AS WE REFLECT ON THE STORY OF JOB, AS WE REFLECT ON GOD'S PRESENCE IN PERIL, LET US REMEMBER THESE TRUTHS. LET US REMEMBER THAT GOD IS WITH US, THAT HE IS OUR REFUGE AND STRENGTH, A VERY PRESENT HELP IN TROUBLE. LET US REMEMBER THAT GOD IS WORKING IN US, TRANSFORMING US, MAKING US MORE LIKE CHRIST. LET US REMEMBER THAT GOD IS REVEALING HIMSELF TO US, SHOWING US HIS CHARACTER, HIS NATURE, HIS HEART. AND LET US REMEMBER THAT GOD IS OUR HOPE, OUR ANCHOR, OUR LIGHT, OUR SONG.

NO MATTER WHAT WE ARE GOING THROUGH, NO MATTER HOW DIFFICULT OUR CIRCUMSTANCES, WE CAN REST IN THE KNOWLEDGE THAT GOD IS WITH US, THAT HE IS FOR US, THAT HE IS WORKING IN US AND THROUGH US, THAT HE IS OUR HOPE. AND THAT IS A TRUTH THAT CAN CARRY US THROUGH EVEN THE DARKEST OF NIGHTS, EVEN THE FIERCEST OF STORMS, EVEN THE DEEPEST OF VALLEYS.

GOD IS WITH US. HE IS FOR US. HE IS OUR HOPE. AND THAT IS A TRUTH WORTH HOLDING ON TO, A TRUTH WORTH CELEBRATING, A TRUTH WORTH PROCLAIMING.

SO, LET US HOLD ON TO THIS TRUTH. LET US CELEBRATE THIS TRUTH. LET US PROCLAIM THIS TRUTH. AND LET US LIVE IN THE LIGHT OF THIS TRUTH, KNOWING THAT NO MATTER WHAT WE FACE, NO MATTER WHAT WE GO THROUGH, GOD IS WITH US, GOD IS FOR US, GOD IS OUR HOPE.

FAITH AMIDST THE FURY

AS WE CONTINUE TO REFLECT ON THE WORDS OF JOB, WE FIND OURSELVES DRAWN TO THE IDEA OF FAITH AMIDST THE FURY. THIS IS NOT A FAITH THAT IS PASSIVE OR UNTESTED, BUT A FAITH THAT IS ACTIVE, DYNAMIC, AND RESILIENT, A FAITH THAT IS FORGED IN THE CRUCIBLE OF ADVERSITY AND EMERGES STRONGER AND MORE REFINED.

CONSIDER JOB'S SITUATION. HE WAS A MAN WHO HAD LOST EVERYTHING - HIS WEALTH, HIS HEALTH, HIS CHILDREN. YET, IN THE MIDST OF HIS SUFFERING, HE DID NOT ABANDON HIS FAITH. HE DID NOT TURN AWAY FROM GOD. INSTEAD, HE HELD ONTO HIS FAITH WITH A TENACITY THAT IS BOTH INSPIRING AND CHALLENGING. HIS FAITH WAS NOT A FAIR-WEATHER FAITH, EASILY DISCARDED WHEN THE STORMS OF LIFE ROLLED IN. NO, HIS FAITH WAS A STORM-WEATHERED FAITH, A FAITH THAT STOOD FIRM EVEN WHEN THE WINDS OF ADVERSITY WERE HOWLING AND THE WAVES OF DESPAIR WERE CRASHING.

NOW, LET'S LOOK AT THE FIRST FEW VERSES OF OUR PASSAGE.

"THEN THE LORD ANSWERED JOB OUT OF THE WHIRLWIND AND SAID: 'WHO IS THIS THAT DARKENS COUNSEL BY WORDS WITHOUT KNOWLEDGE? DRESS FOR ACTION LIKE A MAN; I WILL QUESTION YOU, AND YOU MAKE IT KNOWN TO ME.

WHERE WERE YOU WHEN I LAID THE FOUNDATION OF THE EARTH? TELL ME, IF YOU HAVE UNDERSTANDING.'"

HERE, WE SEE GOD CHALLENGING JOB, QUESTIONING HIM, REMINDING HIM OF HIS SOVEREIGNTY.

BUT NOTICE THAT GOD IS NOT REBUKING JOB FOR HIS FAITH. INSTEAD, HE IS CHALLENGING JOB TO DEEPEN HIS FAITH, TO TRUST IN HIM EVEN MORE.

THIS IS A CALL TO FAITH AMIDST THE FURY, A CALL TO TRUST IN GOD EVEN WHEN WE DON'T UNDERSTAND, EVEN WHEN WE CAN'T SEE THE WAY FORWARD.

NOW, LET'S TURN OUR ATTENTION TO THE WORD "WHIRLWIND" IN VERSE 1.

IN THE ORIGINAL HEBREW, THIS WORD IS "SEARAH," WHICH CAN ALSO BE TRANSLATED AS "STORM" OR "TEMPEST."

THIS IS THE SAME WORD USED IN PSALM 107:25, WHERE IT SAYS, "FOR HE COMMANDED AND RAISED THE STORMY WIND, WHICH LIFTED UP THE WAVES OF THE SEA."

AND AGAIN IN ISAIAH 29:6, "YOU WILL BE VISITED BY THE LORD OF HOSTS WITH THUNDER AND WITH EARTHQUAKE AND GREAT NOISE, WITH WHIRLWIND AND TEMPEST, AND THE FLAME OF A DEVOURING FIRE."

IN THESE PASSAGES, THE "SEARAH" OR WHIRLWIND IS A SYMBOL OF GOD'S POWER AND MAJESTY, A REMINDER OF HIS SOVEREIGNTY OVER THE NATURAL WORLD.

BUT IT IS ALSO A SYMBOL OF THE TRIALS AND TRIBULATIONS THAT WE FACE IN LIFE.

JUST AS THE WHIRLWIND IS FIERCE AND POWERFUL, SO TOO ARE THE CHALLENGES THAT WE FACE.

BUT JUST AS THE WHIRLWIND IS UNDER GOD'S CONTROL, SO TOO ARE OUR TRIALS AND TRIBULATIONS.

THEY ARE NOT RANDOM OR MEANINGLESS, BUT ARE PART OF GOD'S PLAN AND PURPOSE FOR OUR LIVES.

AS WE CONTINUE TO REFLECT ON JOB'S FAITH AMIDST THE FURY, LET'S CONSIDER TWO MORE ASPECTS OF THIS FAITH.

FIRST, JOB'S FAITH WAS NOT A BLIND FAITH.

HE DID NOT SIMPLY ACCEPT HIS SUFFERING WITHOUT QUESTION. INSTEAD, HE WRESTLED WITH HIS QUESTIONS, HIS DOUBTS, HIS FEARS.

HE QUESTIONED GOD, HE ARGUED WITH GOD, HE EVEN ACCUSED GOD.

BUT THROUGH IT ALL, HE NEVER LOST HIS FAITH. HE NEVER STOPPED TRUSTING IN GOD.

SECOND, JOB'S FAITH WAS NOT A SOLITARY FAITH.

HE DID NOT FACE HIS TRIALS ALONE. HE HAD HIS FRIENDS, HIS WIFE, HIS COMMUNITY.

THEY DID NOT ALWAYS UNDERSTAND HIS SUFFERING, THEY DID NOT ALWAYS OFFER THE RIGHT WORDS OF COMFORT OR ADVICE.

BUT THEY WERE THERE FOR HIM, THEY STOOD BY HIM, THEY SUPPORTED HIM. AND THROUGH THEIR PRESENCE, THROUGH THEIR SOLIDARITY, THEY HELPED JOB TO HOLD ONTO HIS FAITH, TO KEEP TRUSTING IN GOD, EVEN IN THE MIDST OF HIS SUFFERING.

SO, AS WE REFLECT ON JOB'S FAITH AMIDST THE FURY, LET US BE INSPIRED BY HIS EXAMPLE.

LET US STRIVE TO HAVE A FAITH THAT IS ACTIVE, DYNAMIC, AND RESILIENT, A FAITH THAT IS FORGED IN THE CRUCIBLE OF ADVERSITY AND EMERGES STRONGER AND MORE REFINED.

LET US STRIVE TO HAVE A FAITH THAT IS NOT BLIND, BUT WRESTLES WITH QUESTIONS, DOUBTS, AND FEARS.

AND LET US STRIVE TO HAVE A FAITH THAT IS NOT SOLITARY, BUT IS SUPPORTED BY A COMMUNITY OF BELIEVERS WHO STAND BY US, WHO SUPPORT US, WHO HELP US TO HOLD ONTO OUR FAITH, EVEN IN THE MIDST OF OUR TRIALS.

TRUST IN TURBULENCE

AS WE NAVIGATE THE TUMULTUOUS SEAS OF LIFE, WE ARE OFTEN CONFRONTED WITH STORMS THAT THREATEN TO CAPSIZE OUR BOAT, TO DROWN US IN WAVES OF DESPAIR AND UNCERTAINTY.

BUT IT IS IN THESE MOMENTS OF TURBULENCE, WHEN THE WINDS OF ADVERSITY ARE HOWLING AND THE WAVES OF TRIALS ARE CRASHING AGAINST US, THAT WE ARE CALLED TO TRUST IN GOD, TO ANCHOR OURSELVES IN HIS UNFAILING LOVE AND UNCHANGING GRACE.

TRUSTING GOD IN OUR STORMS IS NOT ABOUT DENYING THE REALITY OF OUR STRUGGLES OR THE INTENSITY OF OUR PAIN.

RATHER, IT IS ABOUT ACKNOWLEDGING THAT, EVEN IN THE MIDST OF OUR TRIALS, GOD IS WITH US, GUIDING US, STRENGTHENING US, AND WORKING ALL THINGS TOGETHER FOR OUR GOOD.

IT IS ABOUT BELIEVING THAT, EVEN WHEN WE CANNOT SEE THE SHORE, GOD IS STEERING OUR BOAT, NAVIGATING US THROUGH THE STORM, AND LEADING US TO SAFE HARBOR.

IN THE TURBULENCE OF LIFE, WE ARE OFTEN TEMPTED TO FOCUS ON THE STORM, TO BE CONSUMED BY THE WAVES OF FEAR AND DOUBT THAT THREATEN TO OVERWHELM US.

BUT WHEN WE FIX OUR EYES ON GOD, WHEN WE TRUST IN HIS SOVEREIGNTY AND REST IN HIS LOVE, WE CAN FIND PEACE AMIDST THE CHAOS, HOPE AMIDST THE DESPAIR, AND STRENGTH AMIDST THE WEAKNESS.

AND ISN'T THAT WHAT TRUSTING GOD IN OUR STORMS IS ALL ABOUT?

IT'S ABOUT HOLDING ON TO THE TRUTHS OF GOD'S LOVE, GOD'S GRACE, AND GOD'S SOVEREIGNTY, EVEN WHEN OUR CIRCUMSTANCES ARE CHALLENGING, EVEN WHEN OUR EMOTIONS ARE LIKE WE’RE ON ROLLERCOASTER, EVEN WHEN OUR FAITH IS WAVERING.

BUT TRUSTING GOD IN OUR STORMS IS NOT JUST ABOUT HOLDING ON TO GOD; IT'S ALSO ABOUT LETTING GO OF OUR FEARS, OUR DOUBTS, OUR NEED FOR CONTROL.

IT'S ABOUT SURRENDERING TO GOD, ABOUT YIELDING TO HIS WILL, ABOUT ENTRUSTING OUR LIVES TO HIS CARE.

IT'S ABOUT RECOGNIZING THAT, EVEN WHEN WE ARE IN THE MIDST OF A STORM, GOD IS IN CONTROL, GOD IS AT WORK, AND GOD IS FOR US.

SO, AS WE FACE THE STORMS OF LIFE, LET US TRUST IN GOD, LET US REST IN HIS LOVE, LET US SURRENDER TO HIS WILL.

LET US REMEMBER THAT, EVEN IN THE TURBULENCE, GOD IS WITH US, GOD IS FOR US, AND GOD IS WORKING ALL THINGS TOGETHER FOR OUR GOOD.

AND AS WE TRUST IN GOD, LET US ALSO TAKE ACTION, LET US ALSO STEP OUT IN FAITH, LET US ALSO MAKE A DIFFERENCE IN THE WORLD.

FOR FAITH WITHOUT WORKS IS DEAD, AND TRUST WITHOUT ACTION IS MEANINGLESS.

SO, LET US NOT JUST TRUST IN GOD, BUT LET US ALSO LIVE FOR GOD, LET US ALSO SERVE GOD, LET US ALSO GLORIFY GOD.

IN THE TURBULENCE OF LIFE, LET US TRUST IN GOD, LET US REST IN HIS LOVE, LET US SURRENDER TO HIS WILL.

LET US REMEMBER THAT, EVEN IN THE STORM, GOD IS WITH US, GOD IS FOR US, AND GOD IS WORKING ALL THINGS TOGETHER FOR OUR GOOD.

AND AS WE TRUST IN GOD, LET US ALSO TAKE ACTION, LET US ALSO STEP OUT IN FAITH, LET US ALSO MAKE A DIFFERENCE IN THE WORLD.

FOR FAITH WITHOUT WORKS IS DEAD, AND TRUST WITHOUT ACTION IS MEANINGLESS. SO, LET US NOT JUST TRUST IN GOD, BUT LET US ALSO LIVE FOR GOD, LET US ALSO SERVE GOD, LET US ALSO GLORIFY GOD.

CLOSING

AS WE CLOSE OUR TIME TOGETHER TODAY, LET'S REMEMBER THAT, LIKE JOB, WE MAY NOT ALWAYS UNDERSTAND THE TRIALS WE FACE.

WE MAY NOT ALWAYS KNOW THE WHY OR THE HOW, BUT WE CAN ALWAYS TRUST IN THE WHO.

WE CAN ALWAYS TRUST IN THE GOODNESS AND LOVE OF OUR GOD, WHO IS WITH US IN EVERY STORM, WHO WALKS WITH US THROUGH EVERY VALLEY, AND WHO LIFTS US UP ON EVERY MOUNTAINTOP.

GOD'S LOVE FOR US IS UNCHANGING. HIS MERCY IS NEW EVERY MORNING.

HIS GRACE IS SUFFICIENT FOR EVERY TRIAL.

HIS POWER IS MADE PERFECT IN OUR WEAKNESS.

HIS PEACE SURPASSES ALL UNDERSTANDING.

HIS JOY IS OUR STRENGTH.

HIS PROMISES ARE YES AND AMEN.

AND HIS PRESENCE IS OUR GREATEST COMFORT.

SO, LET'S HOLD ON TO THESE TRUTHS. LET'S CLING TO THEM IN THE MIDST OF OUR TRIALS.

LET'S ANCHOR OUR FAITH IN THEM IN THE FACE OF OUR FEARS.

LET'S REST IN THEM IN OUR MOMENTS OF RESTLESSNESS.

AND LET'S PROCLAIM THEM IN OUR SEASONS OF PRAISE.

_________________________________________________

LET'S PRAY TOGETHER.

DEAR HEAVENLY FATHER, WE THANK YOU FOR YOUR WORD TODAY. WE THANK YOU FOR REMINDING US OF YOUR PRESENCE, YOUR POWER, AND YOUR PROMISES. WE THANK YOU FOR THE FAITH OF JOB, WHICH INSPIRES US TO TRUST IN YOU, EVEN WHEN WE DON'T UNDERSTAND. WE ASK THAT YOU HELP US TO HOLD ON TO THIS FAITH, TO CLING TO YOUR TRUTHS, AND TO REST IN YOUR LOVE. AS WE GO FROM HERE, MAY YOUR SPIRIT GUIDE US, MAY YOUR GRACE SUSTAIN US, AND MAY YOUR PEACE SURROUND US. IN JESUS' NAME, WE PRAY, AMEN.

AND NOW, MAY THE GOD OF HOPE FILL YOU WITH ALL JOY AND PEACE IN BELIEVING, SO THAT BY THE POWER OF THE HOLY SPIRIT YOU MAY ABOUND IN HOPE. MAY THE LORD BLESS YOU AND KEEP YOU, MAY THE LORD MAKE HIS FACE SHINE UPON YOU AND BE GRACIOUS TO YOU, MAY THE LORD LIFT UP HIS COUNTENANCE UPON YOU AND GIVE YOU PEACE. IN THE NAME OF THE FATHER, AND OF THE SON, AND OF THE HOLY SPIRIT, AMEN.

GO IN PEACE, BELOVED, AND SERVE THE LORD WITH GLADNESS.

LET'S BOW OUR HEADS IN PRAYER.

DEAR HEAVENLY FATHER, WE THANK YOU FOR THIS DAY, FOR THE OPPORTUNITY TO GATHER IN YOUR NAME, TO HEAR YOUR WORD, AND TO LEARN FROM YOUR WISDOM. AS WE DELVE INTO THE BOOK OF JOB TODAY, WE ASK THAT YOU OPEN OUR HEARTS AND MINDS, THAT WE MAY UNDERSTAND YOUR MESSAGE, THAT WE MAY GROW IN OUR FAITH, AND THAT WE MAY DRAW CLOSER TO YOU. IN JESUS' NAME, WE PRAY, AMEN.