27th June 2025

In His Hands

In whose hand is the life of every living thing,

and the breath of all mankind?

     Job 12:10

Today's Bible Reading: Job 12:7-10.

When I glimpse a palette of vivid colours painted across the sky or take in the delicate design of a daffodil, I ponder God the Creator. Beauty can awe us as we see His imprint in nature. Even when we are in a city surrounded by a mass of concrete with no green in sight, we may hear the melodious birdsong and know that God is our Maker.

Job pointed to God as Creator not in wonder, but in what seems like exasperation. Job had been tested to the extreme by God, and his friends and their comments did not help him. Job responds to them that they should “ask the animals” or “let the fish in the sea” inform them “that the hand of the Lord has done this” (Job 12:7-9). Job was distraught by the trials that descended on him, and although he was troubled and confused by them, he remained convinced that God could be seen in His creation: “In whose hand is the life of every living thing  creature” (v 10).

This Old Testament story reminds me that when we gaze at a stunning sunset with tears streaming because of pain or some injustice, yet we can trust in God. Though we suffer now, one day He will welcome us to a place of no more tears and no more crying (Revelation 21:4). As we wait for that wonderful day, He will give us the strength to persevere, even as He did for Job.

Prayer: My Creator and Maker, in Your hand is the life and breath of every creature on this earth. Help me to wonder at Your creation and give thanks to You. In Jesus name. Amen.