“The Lord gave, and the Lord has taken away; Blessed be the name of the Lord.” Job 1:22

In the first chapter of the book of Job a messenger comes to Job with distressing news that his herd of five hundred oxen had just been stolen and the servants tending them had been killed in the raid. Then another messenger hurries in and tells him fire from the heavens just burned up his herd of seven thousand sheep. Still another messenger ran in and told him that thieves had stolen his herd of three thousand camels. Then the horrific news soon arrived that his seven sons and three daughters had been killed. A distraught Job tore his robe, shaved his head and then fell to his knees in worship to God, saying, “Naked I came from my mothers womb, and naked I shall return. The Lord gave and the Lord has taken away.

Blessed Be The Name Of The Lord! 

I cannot imagine the incredible loss that Job experienced. Yet every time we experience loss in our lives the devastation feels overwhelming to us in that moment. In such times let us learn from Job. Try falling to your knees and saying, “the Lord has given, and the Lord has taken away, Blessed be the name of the Lord.” The sun will rise tomorrow, and with it a new hope. For indeed God has promised us a future filled with hope (Jeremiah 29:11). God never leaves us where we are, He always has a plan.