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Dear Heavenly Father, Praise I honor you today as my kind and loving Father. Contrary to what Eliphaz believed, you do take pride in me as your child, you are glad when I obey you, and you are pleased when I resist temptation. Indeed, you were the one who said to Satan, “Have you considered my servant Job? For there is no one like him on the earth, a blameless and upright man, fearing God and turning away from evil” (Job 1:8 NASB). I say with gladness, ‘Praise the Lord’! Today in Your Word Today you told me about Eliphaz’s third and last speech to Job. Eliphaz claimed that you didn’t care about Job’s righteous life (Job 22:3), and he accused Job of specific sins: “You have withheld bread from the hungry” (Job 22:7; cf. Rev 12:10). Eliphaz warned Job that he couldn’t escape punishment and urged him to turn to you in repentance. Job ignored Eliphaz’s accusations, but responded to his urging with, “Oh, that I knew where I might find him!” (Job 23:3). Job was convinced that even though he didn’t know where you were, you knew the righteous path he had taken (God knows I’m innocent!). Job vented his frustration at how often the wicked go unpunished and concluded with a curse against them (Job 24:1–25). Reflection Today’s reading reminds me of the times in my life when you seemed silent and far away. Like Job, I have desperately searched for you: “I go forward, but he is not there, and backward, but I do not perceive him” (Job 23:8). Request Father, help me today to remember that “the eyes of the Lord run to and fro throughout the whole earth, to give strong support to those whose heart is blameless toward him” (2 Chr 16:9). Indeed, you are near to the brokenhearted, and you save the crushed in spirit (Ps 34:18). Thanksgiving You said, “The Lord watches over you. The Lord will keep you from all harm—he will watch over your life” (Ps 121:5–7 NIV). Thank you for protecting me from spiritual harm and helping me to stand firm in spite of any physical suffering that I experience in this life. In Jesus’ name, Amen. Suggested Hymn: “God Moves in a Mysterious Way” by William Cowper. Meditation Verse: Job 23:12.