Praise Focus-Compassion and Mercy

JOHN SHIRK – Today’s Praise Focus comes from Job 1:21.

In a place of brokenness, Job fell to the ground in worship, saying, “Naked I came from my mother’s womb, and naked I will depart. The LORD gave and the LORD has taken away; may the name of the LORD be praised.”

Job was in a place of extreme suffering, losing so much of what he had. In that setting, he worshiped the One who was refining his faith and enabling his testimony to shine like gold. With the trials we endure, God is still good and remains on the throne. He still loves us with compassion and mercy. Job persevered in the faith through his pain, and was greatly blessed in the end. In the realm of eternity, this is the experience of the true worshipers of God-grace and blessing beyond the pain of living.

James 5:11 says, “You have heard of Job’s perseverance and have seen what the Lord finally brought about. The Lord is full of compassion and mercy.”

The compassion and mercy of the Lord are reasons to praise God in the Year of Focus.

John Shirk

john@wjtl.com