Daily Devotional | Longing for God

Is there a time in your life that you would love to revisit? For me, it would be the summers during my elementary school years. They were filled with bike riding, popsicles, ice cream, picnics, and playing with friends. My biggest concern was: “Is it going to rain today?”

Job reminisced about days that were much more consequential than just childhood memories. Job longed for the days when he was in intimate fellowship with God. He began in chapter 29 with the words: “How I long for the months gone by, for the days when God watched over me” (v. 2). “Oh, for the days when I was in my prime, when God’s intimate friendship blessed my house” (v. 4).

Job recalled God’s goodness in his life. Poetically Job states, “My path was drenched with cream and the rock poured out for me streams of olive oil” (v. 6). What a beautiful picture of God’s generous love and guidance! God had elevated Job to a place of influence. “When I went to the gate of the city and took my seat in the public square, the young men saw me and stepped aside and old men rose to their feet” (vv. 7–8).

We are given insight into the type of man Job was, a man of kindness and justice. “I rescued the poor who cried for help and the fatherless who had none to assist him. The man who was dying blessed me and I made the widow’s heart sing. I put on righteousness as my clothing and justice was my robe and my turban” (vv. 12 –14).

Job’s walk with God was as intimate as a person’s walk could be. His service to God was a model for others to follow. Job provides a model for us in our own walk with God.