Read the transcript from today's video devotional.
I like the way the English Standard Version translates this verse. It says, "I know that You can do all things, and that no purpose of Yours can be thwarted." The point of this verse is that God's plans succeed. The point is that God's purposes will stand.
When Life Goes According to Plan
That is easy for us to say when life is going well, the way that we want it to, and the way that we planned for it to go. It's good to say this is God's plan unfolding and this is God's purposes standing. This is clearly a God thing. But we're more hesitant to say that when life is not going the way that we want it to. That's exactly what Job is saying.
Job's Devastating Loss
His life had not gone well. If you haven't read the book of Job, I encourage you to read it. You'll find in the very beginning of this book, in one day—this was just one day—everything he had worked for was taken by thieves. All of his children were killed in a windstorm. He lost the companionship of his wife, and then he was given this body that sort of matched the condition of his heart. His body was broken and he had this life-threatening disease.
Then his friends come along, who were at their best when they were not talking. When they began to give him counsel, they became very unhelpful. They said things like, you're suffering, Job, probably because you have some unconfessed sin. Or they also said, your kids really got what they deserved.
At the Breaking Point
Fast forward—eventually Job is at what he thinks is the end of his life. He's like that description in Isaiah of a believer who is like a reed, bent just short of breaking in life. That's where he was. He says these words to God where he's weak, he's weary, and he's wondering if God is ever going to intervene to stop this or speak to him.
God Reveals Himself
Then God comes. God comes and He speaks to Job, and He says to Job as He reveals Himself that He is the great and perfect author of Job's story. Think about how difficult, hard, and painful Job's story had been. Then God comes and says, "Job, I am the author of that story." Do you know what? That was exactly what Job needed to hear.
Then Job said, "I know, God, that you can do all things, and that no purpose of yours can be thwarted." All this, Job says, was planned by God. All of this served God's purposes in my life for His glory and for my good.
A Word for Your Trial
Christian, when you are under trial, when you are under trouble and hardship, you need to know that God can and may deliver you from that trial. But you also need to hear that the trial itself is from God. When something does not go as planned this week—you know it's going to happen—when your plans and your purposes are thwarted, I want you to remind yourself that when that happens, no purpose of God has been thwarted in your life. Job chapter 42, verse 2 says, "I know You can do all things, and that no purpose of Yours can be thwarted."