29th November 2025

29th November 2025


Pray (ACts) 


Read (Job 29&30) 


Message (Scott Woodburn)


Are you a glass half full or a glass half empty person? Do you think the best years are still to come or do you believe that you've had your best days? Are you an eternal optimist or are you confident that only bad things will happen? In chapter twenty-nine we catch another glimpse of Job's emotional state and like many of us he was looking back and longing for those better days.


"Oh, that I were as in the months of old" (29v2) he cried! Wouldn't it be great if I was still in the golden years? Back then Job believed that God watched over him (29v2) and his life was one of blessing and productivity. He was surrounded by his children (29v5), he was called blessed by those around him (29v11) and he was a hero to the widow and the needy (29v12-16). Job's life was marked by righteousness (29v14) and the evil doer understood that Job was not to be messed with (29v17) - when he spoke they didn't speak back (29v21-22). He lived like a king (29v25) and was confident that he would die in comfort (29v18-20). No wonder he longed for the months of old, no wonder Job yearned for the golden days. 


Those happy memories seemed so far away for the man who was now laughed at by even the lowest members of society (30v1-7). Job had become a joke (30v9), hated and someone to spit at (30v10). The golden years were long gone and now all Job had was day after day of affliction (30v15-16). Worst still he believed that God had utterly forsaken him (30v19). He called upon the Lord and yet heard no answer (30v20). Job's life had been spent weeping and grieving for the needy (30v25), but now all he knew was trouble and darkness (30v27-28).


I can't help feel for Job when I read these chapters. He was a man of God who had done nothing to deserve the trouble that had come. He was unaware of the heavenly interaction between God and Satan, all he could see was that undeserved trouble had fallen upon him for no earthly reason. As he reminisced about the days of yore he couldn't help but long for the time when life was simple and secure and the dark clouds were still far off.


How are we to live when the rain falls and the storm blows? Living in the past is not an option. Solomon once counselled us "Say not, 'Why were the former days better than these?' For it is not from wisdom that you ask this." (Ecclesiastes 7v10) Equally our minds are not to be constantly planning for the future. James would tell us that we do not know what tomorrow will bring (James 4v14). Instead, I think we are to try and find rest in the fact that this moment, right now, this very second is the only one we have. It might be filled with joy or it might be another moment of crushing sadness. Even so, we are to approach today with faith. The golden years may seem to have gone and our hopes for tomorrow may be dashed but the child of God has reason to hope for a brighter day. There is something greater for the Christian than earth's brightest or darkest day. One day we will see Jesus and that is better by far.


Pray (acTS)


Sing


WSC


Q32 What benefits do they that are effectually called partake of in this life? They that are effectually called do in this life partake of justification, adoption, sanctification, and the several benefits which, in this life, do either accompany or flow from them.
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