Mannn, let me tell you – I’ve had a week. Oh, for sure, it’s not the worst week ever, but still, it’s been a doozy. I’ve been on a new, temporary job for about two weeks now and I do thank the Lord that the negative stress level is minimal. It has it’s downfalls, but doesn’t every job? If you don’t think so, we’ll just agree to disagree upfront, LOL. I contemplated listing the things I could remember that caused me to feel so downtrodden this week, but I’m going to skip that part and get to the ‘when and why’ of our topic.

All throughout the bible, there are stories of trials and tribulations. My brother often jokes me about how much I’d reference the Book of Job over the years. It’s hard not to revisit Job’s story. He endured so much and was blessed even more. But for most people, it’s hard to read Job’s story from the beginning and feel better anytime soon. Here is where I submit to you that we have got to recognize that our lives, too, are but pages on a book, yet to be written.

When we read any book, it usually never gives the ending at the beginning. So, we have to read it, just as we have to live life. One of the biggest delusions about this, though, is that life is supposed to be lived out at the same speed. How soon we finish a novel is dependent on how long we decide to sit down and read it. Eventually, we’ll read to the end and can move on to another book. We get one life to live and there is no other book to move on to (it’s life and death). If you’re not a fan of Ms. Shirleen or are unaware of her altogether, this would be a great introduction to her. She submits to you that she is going to live her best life and I submit that we all should do the same.

Living our best life is encouraged in the Book of James, Chapter 1. Verse after verse provides a stark reminder that the time to give up on God is never. I will be the first to tell you over and over. I choose to be your friend today and tell you that nothing is ever so horrible or traumatic that it warrants an unexperienced or broken relationship with God. We will fall and mistakes. We will become weary and afraid. Bills will come due and money will be short. But God. Friends will hurt us and family will betray us. Still God. The Lord is faithful. Never give up on God.

READ: Job 19; James 1

LISTEN: https://youtu.be/B2YHvIam5vY?si=OEXfSSgE8pPaNe5P “Faithful Now” by Vertical Worship