Children’s Sermon

Book of Job

Troubles, Troubles

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Book of Job

Troubles, Troubles

By Lois Parker Edstrom

In this story from the Old Testament we learn about a man named Job. He is described as

“…one who feared God and turned away from evil” (1:1). He was a good man, yet many difficult things happen to him. Members of his family died, he lost his property, and then he became ill with a terrible disease.

Job’s friends thought he must have done something very bad and was being punished, but the story tells us that God considered Job to be a good man who had done nothing wrong.

It is difficult for us to understand why bad things happen to good people. Adults discuss this and no one is able to fully answer the question, but we do know that through all Job’s troubles he did not lose his faith in God.

Perhaps it is when we experience difficult things that we learn the most. Job learned that there are things we, as humans, don’t understand. He learned patience and had faith that things would get better. He learned not to make God the bad guy.

We don’t have all the answers, but we can live our lives showing kindness and respect to others, trusting God to help us when we are troubled and struggling.

This story has a happy ending. Job got well and he prospered. He had large herds of sheep, camels, oxen, and donkeys. He had seven sons and three daughters. When he died the Bible tells us he was “old and full of days” (42:17). In spite of all of his troubles, Job was blessed and had a good, long life.

It is easy to become discouraged when difficult things happen to us. Sometimes we think our troubles will never end. As we struggle through our difficulties, we learn patience and that makes us strong. We learn that it is possible to have a good life, even though difficult things may happen. Have patience, look forward to better times, and find

your joy.

Scripture quotations from the World English Bible

Copyright 2014, Richard Niell Donovan