COURAGE AND HOPE

Today's reading: Job 11-12

"You will have courage because you will have hope. You will be protected and will rest in safety." Job 11:18 NLT

When reading the account of Job, one seldom finds helpful or encouraging words spoken by his three friends. Seldom. Hardly ever.

Their words cut Job, wounded him, accused him, barraged him, angered him and ridiculed him.

But in this morning's reading, although wrapped up in a package of sandpaper presented by Zophar, I find a simple truth...

We will have courage because we have hope.

It's not all about how well we do something.

Or how often we do something.

Or with the flair that we do something.

Or that with the heartfelt assurance of our abilities that we do something.

It's ALWAYS because we have hope in our God.

That makes us courageous.

It spurs us to speak the Gospel to another--knowing it squarely places the outcome in God's hands.

It allows us to parent in godly ways--knowing the harvest of our children's souls are up to Him to produce.

It encourages us to do more than we ever thought possible--because He has no limits.

Having hope makes us courageous and our courage is built firmly and securely on our Hope!