Job Chapter 27: Verses 3-6 (NIV-UK)
as long as I have life within me,
the breath of God in my nostrils,
my lips will not say anything wicked,
and my tongue will not utter lies.
I will never admit you are in the right;
till I die, I will not deny my integrity.
I will maintain my innocence and never let go of it;
my conscience will not reproach me as long as I live.
Job Chapter 28: Verse 28 (NIV-UK)
And he said to the human race,
‘The fear of the Lord – that is wisdom,
and to shun evil is understanding.’
2 Corinthians Chapter 12: Verse 9 (NIV-UK)
But he said to me, ‘My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.’ Therefore, I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ’s power may rest on me.
Job’s friends kept putting pressure on him to accept that his suffering was due to something that Job had done, and that he needed to confess this to allow God to forgive him. Job held on to his integrity in the face of this pressure. He was not prepared to compromise at any cost, even although he did not understand why God had allowed this suffering. He knew that God was greater than his own understanding and that he could not let his own feelings and comfort come before his honouring of God. He was indeed a wise man!
When we are facing hardship, or are feeling under pressure to conform or behave in a different way to what our conscience is telling us, we can feel that it might be easier just to give in. When we feel like that, then that’s the very time we need to come to God and ask for the strength to stand and maintain our integrity. We can’t do that in our own strength and Paul explains that acknowledging our weakness to God allows Him to move in and through us through the power of the Holy Spirit. God doesn’t want us to try and be independent, and do things for ourselves, He wants to work with us and through us. And surely by accepting His grace and strength takes the pressure off ourselves.
Dear Lord,
I know that I can be guilty of trying to work things out and stand in my own strength. Help me to be humble and accept Your grace which brings with it Your comfort and strength. I ask in Jesus’ Name. Amen.