Week 3: Blessings and Adversity

This was an interesting week of reading. The week started with the conclusion to the story of Joseph and the incredible blessings poured out on him and his family as they were reconnected, and the week ended with the start of the story of Job and his many trials he faced. It seems to be telling of life, in that, there are ups and downs, but through it all we can rely on God and his plan that he has for us. There were several verses that jumped out at me over the week, here is a quick run down of what they are, and why I think they spoke to me:

• "You intended to harm me, but God intended it all for good." Genesis 50: 20. I liked this verse because it shows Joseph's faith in God, and it reminded me that God's plan is bigger than my plan, or your plan, or the other guy's plan.
• "...The Lord gave me what I had, and the Lord has taken it away. Praise the name of the Lord!" Job 1:21. This is part of Job's cry after he learns that he has lost everything, and in spite of his great loss he lifts a word of praise to the Lord. I think about all of the times I grumble and complain over the littlest things, and this verse is a good reminder that everything is God's and I should praise him for what he has given me because I am really very blessed. If Job can lose everything and in response praise the Lord, I can definitely try harder to offer up more praise in my daily life.
• "What are people, that you should make so much of us, that you should think of us so often? For you examine us every morning and test us every moment." Job 7:17. This verse made me think of God's amazing love for us and what a gift it is that He thinks of us, and loves us enough to examine us and test us so that we may grow in His love. This love He has for us constantly boggles my mind, but I know I would be nothing without it.

As we go through this new week, I pray that we may experience God's love in ways we didn't expect.