1755) I love to read and if I can fit in the time, I’m perfectly content, sitting on the desk and reading. I love to read fiction, but stories of ordinary people who act in extraordinary ways draw my attention.

One person I would place in this category is Job. A wealthy man with many assets, a sometimes-grumpy wife and friends who stick by him for a time. It is this man whom Satan jostles with and, after getting God’s permission; he pulls the rug out from under Job.

Job is to be admired because he said, The Lord gives and the Lord takes away, blessed be the name of the Lord. Wow! What faith! But is this the complete picture? I don’t think so.

In Job 30:17, Job says the night racks my bones, and the pain that gnaws me takes no rest. Job bravely “held court” with God within the pages of this Old Testament book.

Does this mean that Job started out strong in his faith and then had a spiritual crisis? Perhaps, but I find encouragement from this man.

Job fluctuated between strong faith and times of doubt and yet, God spoke highly of Job to Satan. How can this be?

Maybe the most admirable thing about Job is that despite how he felt, he held on to his faith.