Double for Your Trouble

"And the Lord turned the captivity of Job...also the Lord gave Job twice as much as he had before."

Job 42:10

If you've ever been there...you have questions about something you can't quite grasp in the spiritual realm...then all the sudden God gives you an "aha" moment.

I had one of these this morning!

Maybe I'm an odd cat, BUT...the story of Job bothers me sometimes. Maybe it's only been since I began "losing" multiple people in my life during recent years. I'm not quite sure when it began, I only know it appeared. I realize this might sound self-centered but it is the truth anyhow. A person can ask some pretty odd questions during certain seasons of life - of which might not seem logical, or even pure stupidity to others. During some seasons, things which make complete sense at other times seem on the opposite end of the spectrum. Have you ever been there?

I suppose the thing I have struggled with the most isn't the fact that God allowed Satan to touch Job's life and in the end restored to him "double for his trouble"; it's the fact that I've put myself in Job's place and realize there will be no more sons born to me to "replace" the one I've lost. Not only is that crazily, distorted thinking and perhaps a really bad comparison, it has kept my perspective blinded to seeing some of the things God has doubled and restored to me. After all, God has inserted some precious things into my life in double proportion that I couldn't have gained any other way, and I have been greatly blessed on this side of that season.

Think about some of your trials. What are some things you've lost? Go ahead, speak them out loud or write them down! It's OK, God already knows. All I could see is that I had lost my son. Yet, I realized today that I lost other things as well. It might not have been things you could perceive and obviously I didn't realize it until I opened a book and began to think more about it today. However, during that time I lost my smile, my laughter, and I lost my faith for a moment too. I won't bore you with all the things, because I hope by now you're thinking about some of the things you feel you've lost in your own life.

It's never comfortable to lose...except maybe when you're losing weight - and even that's an uncomfortable process of discipline. Yet, I've referred to the quote I learned during that season and have quoted many times since: "God never wastes a hurt!" It's kind of a modern saying for the Bible verse Romans 8:28 in my opinion. He doesn't allow something to be taken without giving something in return if we'll keep walking with Him. Again, God didn't give me a son to replace Steffan, (we know there is nobody who can replace our loved ones) but He did give me back some things like my smile, laughter, faith and added so many other things too.

He gave beauty for ashes. Joy for mourning. Strength in weakness. He gave me a new outlook on life and grief. He added a big dose of understanding of and sympathy for others in the same types of situations I walk through. He gave me extra appreciation and love for those people still present in my life. He also placed people in strategic places in my life to help me on the healing process I had to journey through. What blessings!

He added to my daily as I could receive!

I'm sure if you stop and take inventory of your hard season, He has added things to your life as well. Since He never wastes a hurt, He uses every detail to show us other things and to change us. It's not a total loss! James 1 clearly tells us that God allows things into our lives and uses them for our betterment. No, it doesn't feel good, but God can use it if we allow Him to. There are so many scriptures and stories to back this up! Can I encourage us NOT to handcuff God in restoring stuff to our lives because we won't be willing to look a little deeper and accept transition and restoration.

Never doubt, my friend, if He did it for me He will do it for you too. Take inventory. Have you sat down on God or are you allowing Him to add to your daily? He gave His life, so He could give us ours more abundantly. It doesn't always look like we think it will, it doesn't always happen in a pain free way, but He is faithful to bring it to pass. I'd love to know what you find that the Lord has added to your life. It's easy to spot the negatives, but when we look deeper and take a God-focused perspective, I'm sure we can all find that He's given us back things we could never have gained without the struggle and loss we endure. God is in the business of turning EVERY bad situation and restoring to us things we never imagined.

Job had no idea his possessions would be doubled in the middle of his trial...and we can't even imagine the things God longs to double in our lives either. While it might not be exactly what we lost, He is always in the business of adding and multiplying if our hearts are open and we tune our eyes to see what is not visible on a surface level. I'm so thankful and I testify today that God has restored and added to my life in ways I never couldn't imagined. I hope this leaves you encouraged and taking inventory in this new year. Let God do God-sized restorations within you!

Feel free to share this post, and things you've learned in the comments if you'd like.