Sweeter Than Honey I Will Hope in Him

Sweeter Than Honey: I Will Hope in Him

1/4/2022

I Will Hope in Him: Job preaches a message of extreme hope! He lost his children, servants, livestock, possessions, barns, houses... His friends turn against him and what does Job say? “Though He slay me, I will hope in Him…” (13:15).

From the Old Testament to the New, the eternality of God's Word is clearly proclaimed:

Job tells us, “I have treasured the Words of His mouth more than my portion of food” (Job 23:12).

Isaiah reminds us that, “The grass withers and the flowers fall, but the Word of our God endures forever” (Isaiah 40:8).

And Matthew records Jesus saying, “Heaven and earth will pass away, but My Words will never pass away” (Matthew 24:35).

God's Word is like an eternal Love Letter to us!

Have you ever received a love letter, friend? Did you read it? Did you read it just once, or did you read it over and over again? A Love Letter is a treasure when you love the One who sent it!

How would you like to read through God's Love Letter—His Word, the Bible, with a group of like-minded, Christian girlfriends? We're doing that over in the private, Sweeter Than Honey, Facebook group. Did you know you don't have to start a Bible reading plan on January 1? You can begin today! This simple plan, and an accountability partner, will help you succeed. Who will be your accountability partner? Share this post with them and invite them to the private Facebook group.

JOIN THE PRIVATE SWEETER THAN HONEY FACEBOOK GROUP

Sweeter Than Honey is patterned after this Bible Reading Itinerary. On Tuesdays, here at the blog, I would love it if you and I could take a trip through God's Word and Sweeter Than Honey, together! I would also encourage you to Join us over in the private, Sweeter Than Honey, Facebook group, introduce yourself, meet new friends, and share your thoughts there as well. We're waiting for you!

Job 13-16: I Will Hope in Him

Job 13 is a chapter of hope. Job, speaking to his friends says,

“Behold, my eye has seen all this, my ear has heard and understood it. What you know, I also know; I am not inferior to you. But I would speak to the Almighty, and I desire to argue my case with God. As for you, you whitewash with lies; worthless physicians are you all. Oh that you would keep silent, and it would be your wisdom! Hear now my argument and listen to the pleadings of my lips. Will you speak falsely for God and speak deceitfully for Him? Will you show partiality toward Him? Will you plead the case for God? Will it be well with you when He searches you out? Or can you deceive Him, as one deceives a man? He will surely rebuke you if in secret you show partiality. Will not His majesty terrify you, and the dread of Him fall upon you? Your maxims are proverbs of ashes; your defenses are defenses of clay. Let me have silence, and I will speak, and let come on me what may” (13:1-13)

What I like most about this chapter is, “Though He slay me, I will hope in Him…” (13:15).

All of this happened to Job—he lost all of his children, most of his servants, his livestock, possessions, barns, and houses. Now, his friends have turned against him, and what does Job say? “Though He slay me, I will hope in Him…” (13:15). Job preaches a message of extreme hope!

I have a little exercise for you. Today, I want you to [grab a piece of paper and] list seven things that give you hope in God.

Job still holds on to hope in God, even with all he’s been through, and we should too.

My "Hope in God" list:

God hears the desire of the afflicted — Psalm 10:17
God is gracious, righteous, and full of compassion — Psalm 116:5-6
God comforts us in ALL of our troubles — 2 Corinthians 1:3-4
God will NEVER forsake those who seek Him — Psalm 9:10
God promises to instruct us in the way we should go — Psalm 32:8
God promise peace to those who put their trust in Him — Isaiah 26:3
God is a provider and will meet ALL of your needs — Philippians 4:19

About Sweeter Than Honey

When I read God’s Word each morning, I find inspiration and insight that keeps my day on track. Join me on this journey. Let’s settle in with His Word—it’s His Love Letter to us. Did you know that? Let’s read it like a love letter, expecting to glean something for our walk with Him every day. Let’s look for peace in the chaos and strength for our weaknesses. Even on our busiest days we can carve out a few minutes to refocus on the important—the eternal. Can’t we? We may have to get up a little earlier, when the house is still and quiet, or stay up a few minutes after the others are all tucked in for the night, but we can do this! I know we can!

Let's be intentional about focusing on God’s Word and the truths found there. Let's let it inspire us to live out our faith each day in a way that causes those we come in contact with to want what we have found. God sees you. He knows you by name, He knows the number of hairs on your head, and He cares about every detail of your daily existence. He wrote you a Love Letter. Let’s dive in!

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17 Comments

Donna B Reidland link

1/4/2022 10:11:12 am

Good morning! I just wanted to share with you that a purchased your book a few weeks ago. It's beautiful to look at as well as full of insight into God's Word. Since I follow a different reading plan and blog through it as I do, I decided to use it but just read the books in the standard order. I have enjoyed it very much. Blessings as you share God's Word with those who are following along with you. New Year blessings!

Patsy Burnette link

1/4/2022 10:37:27 am

Thank you so much, Donna! I love that you are using Sweeter Than Honey in a different way. :) It's almost like a student textbook for studying God's Word, and I am encouraged seeing people dive into His Word with fresh eyes seeking Him in 2022!

Blessings to you and yours in the new year as well!

Barbara Harper link

1/4/2022 10:44:21 am

God is such a lesson in faith for me. It's easy to trust when God works everything out the way we wanted. But when His plans are different--we learn to trust Him because we know His character.

1/4/2022 11:24:42 am

"It's easy to trust when God works everything out the way we wanted. But when His plans are different--we learn to trust Him because we know His character." <— THAT is so true, Barbara!

I have found the book of Job to be a case of extreme loss (1:13-19), extreme worship (1:20-22), extreme trust (2:10b), and today, extreme hope (13:15).

We have much to learn from Job!!

Donna link

1/4/2022 12:35:41 pm

Love this lesson from Job, so timely for stepping into the New Year with faith!

1/4/2022 12:38:58 pm

My word of the year for 2022 is Faithful, and my verse of the year is Psalm 115:1, “Not to us, O Lord, not to us, but to Your name give glory, for the sake of Your steadfast love and Your faithfulness!”

Job was faithful BEFORE trouble came. He was faithful not for his own glory, but for the name of his Lord—for the sake of His God’s steadfast love and faithfulness.

I think that is the theme we’re going to find sprinkled throughout the book of Job—God’s steadfast love and faithfulness, and He offers this same steadfast love and faithfulness to us today that He offered to Job in his day.

Grab a hold of that steadfast love and faithfulness, friend, and cling to it in 2022!!

Julie

1/5/2022 07:53:40 am

You’re right, Donna. That’s a good point. Coming into 2022 we have no idea what it holds- the good and bad, and there will be both. I pray that our responses will be the same for both…faith and faithfulness.

1/6/2022 06:54:12 am

You are so right, Julie! "Coming into 2022 we have no idea what it holds..." When I wrote this, back in January of 2020, we were literally just weeks away from worldwide life-changing events with the pandemic. We had no idea what was coming, but none of this caught our God by surprise—NONE of it!!

Lauren Sparks link

1/5/2022 03:21:22 pm

Oh, Your hope in God list is such a helpful encouragement!

1/6/2022 06:51:05 am

Thank you, Lauren. It opens the door for a whole new blog post! :)

Michele Morin link

1/6/2022 07:49:48 am

Whenever I read Job, I marvel at the hope he lived in, and he had so little to go on compared with us!

Patsy Burnette

1/6/2022 08:05:03 am

You are so right, Michele. We have Job's whole picture laid out before us, yet we still struggle to trust an all-knowing, all-sufficient God Who we know has our best interest in His plans.

Job had nothing (compared to us) and yet he trusted this same God!

Lot's to learn here!

jviola79@hotmail.com link

1/6/2022 08:25:52 am

Job always amazes me as he remained so faithful to God under tremendous loss and pain. Reading this post brought Romans 5:5 to mind: "And this hope will not lead to disappointment. For we know how dearly God loves us, because he has given us the Holy Spirit to fill our hearts with his love." Hope in God will not lead to disappointment. May we rest in this assurance.

1/6/2022 08:45:47 am

I love that, Joanne! "Hope in God will not lead to disappointment." Such a wonderful truth! And I love how you tied in Romans 5:5 as well. :) "...for we know how dearly God loves us..."

Carlie link

1/6/2022 01:26:39 pm

Thanks for sharing this simple yet powerful hope-refueling exercise, Patsy.

1/6/2022 05:10:47 pm

You're so welcome, Carlie! :) Blessings to you!

Lisa Jordan link

1/9/2022 01:34:45 pm

Such a beautiful post. I love your "Hope in God" list. I'll be pondering mine as I look forward to a new week of Hoping in Him.

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