Kristi Burchfiel

VERSE: Job 23:10–But He knows the way I take; when He has tried me, I shall come forth as gold. TRUTH: Job responds to the criticisms of his friends with this statement. Job knows that God knows all things. Job trusts that at the end of the day, when God has fully tried him and he is finally pulled from the furnace of trials, he will emerge as gold. God provides us with trials in order to refine us and help us become more like Him. Will we emerge like pure gold from our difficulties: more Christ-like and less dependant on anything else besides Jesus? RESPONSE: Lord, I want to…

VERSE: Job 22:23–If you return to the Almighty, you will be restored; if you remove unrighteousness far from your tent. TRUTH: Job’s friend Eliphaz is speaking again. His words do have some truth to them, but again they do not apply to Job or his situation. When we are with people who are going through difficult times, simply telling them statements without really understanding their situation is not helpful. We need to be patient and listen to what they say, then trust God to give us the words that they need to hear.RESPONSE: Lord, I pray that while I am with people who are hurting that I may give them…

VERSE: Job 21:7–“Why do the wicked still live, continue on, also become very powerful?” TRUTH: This question, asked by Job, has been echoed by countless others throughout the ages. In essence, why isn’t life fair? Yet we think too simplistically and expect the consequences of evil actions to be immediate. God has said that all have sinned and fallen short of His glory. The answer for why the wicked still live: “God is not slow about His promise as some count slowness, but is patient toward you, not wanting any to perish, but for all to come to repentance.” 2 Peter 3:9. RESPONSE: Lord, You greatly desire all to come…

VERSE: Job 20:4a-5–“Do you know this from of old…that the triumphing of the wicked is short and the joy of the godless momentary?” TRUTH: This is an interesting statement. If we look at it the way Job’s friend Zophar intended it, then it is false. However, it we look at it from God’s perspective, then it is very true. While here on earth, those who are evil can seem to linger for a lifetime, not “short” compared to the 80 years of life. However, what is that 80 years compared to eternity? When we keep our perspective on the vastness of God, we recognize that our time on earth is just a minuscule…

VERSE: Job 19:25–As for me, I know that my Redeemer lives, and at the last He will take His stand on the earth. TRUTH: Job has these words of hope and confidence for his friends. He knows that his Redeemer lives and is concerned about him. He places his hope and his faith on this truth. He clings to it when everything around him seems to tell him differently. He knows that the Redeemer lives and will, at the last, take His rightful place on the earth and all will be set right. RESPONSE: Father, I know that You live. I will hold on to this truth no matter what.…

VERSE: Job 18:21–“Surely such are the dwellings of the wicked, and this is the place of him who does not know God.” TRUTH: In this chapter, Job’s friend Bildad describes brokenness and destruction, then states that this is what the wicked experience. While it’s true that ultimately when God judges all people, those without Jesus Christ will experience this. However, until that time, sometimes it can appear that the wicked prosper. We must not place our trust in what we see, or get focused on the apparent “unfairness” of life, but must trust in the One who is over all. RESPONSE: Lord, sometimes it doesn’t seem like those who do…

VERSE: Job 17:15–Where now is my hope? An who regards my hope? TRUTH: We all need hope to continue through the difficulties we encounter. Hope is more than just a warm happy feeling, it is a confident assurance; a knowledge that what God has said, He will do. Are we sure that God will act according to His promises, even when we can’t possibly see how? Do we hope in Him alone? RESPONSE: Lord, You are my hope. You are my all. In You I will place my trust. I will act confidently according to Your promises, even when I do not see Your answers.

VERSE: Job 16:12–“I was a ease, but He shattered me, and He has grasped me by the neck and shaken me to pieces; He has also set me up as His target.” TRUTH: When God decides to move in our life, this is how it can feel. We may have felt at ease, but God when God decides that He is ready for us to learn more or to do more, it can feel like everything has been striped away. We must remember, God does not desire our comfort, He desires to make us more like Him. Whatever it takes, we are to be like Him. RESPONSE: Lord, there are…

VERSE: Job 15:20–“The wicked man writhes in pain all his days, and numbered are he years stored up for the ruthless.” TRUTH: Job’s friend Eliphaz is speaking again and reveals a very logical idea that is wrong. As much as we would like to believe that evil people will experience bad things, that is simply not true. The Lord never promises us that our lives here would be fair. Plus, as we have all sinned and fallen short of God’s glory, we should be very thankful that God does not give us what we deserve. RESPONSE: Lord, help me to see people through Your eyes instead of through incorrect assumptions. I…