For I know that my Redeemer lives, and at the last he will stand upon the earth. And after my skin has been thus destroyed, yet in my flesh I shall see God.

Job 19:25-26 (ESV)

So often we can find ourselves in times of extreme difficulty and trial. This may be the death of a loved one, hard financial times, depression, or physical illness. Whatever it is, we may feel separate from our loved ones and friends. In times of pain in my life, isolation has been a very easy place to fall into. The feeling that no one knows what you are going through hurts. It is made even worse when people try to explain why they know what you are going through.

Job went through the same thing. He was tortured by Satan. His wealth, family, and health were all taken from him. He was afflicted at every turn. Four of his friends came and sat with him but only to tell him that he surely must have been a bad man for all of this to happen. Job displayed great depression, even wishing he had never been born. However, one thing he said sticks in the minds of the readers. After everything that happened, he praised God and exclaimed “the Lord gave, and the Lord has taken away. Blessed be the name of the Lord” (Job 1:21).

In times of trial, we must remember what Job remembered. God will never leave us or forsake us. Even when it seems like there is no hope of return, no hope of safety and comfort, God is there. We must remember, as Job did, that our Redeemer lives! Even if we lose everything, our Redeemer lives! After everything is destroyed and we are left here on earth, we will see God and know that our Redeemer lives. We don’t think he lives, we don’t believe he lives, we KNOW that Christ our Redeemer lives!