Job 23:17; Selected Scriptures
By
D.Z. Cofield, Th.M., D. Min.
January 17, 2021

Scripture Reading:

Psalms 8-31:1 NKJV
“In You, O LORD, I put my trust; Let me never be ashamed; Deliver me in Your righteousness. Bow down Your ear to me, Deliver me speedily; Be my rock of refuge, A fortress of defense to save me. For You are my rock and my fortress; Therefore, for Your name’s sake, Lead me and guide me. Pull me out of the net which they have secretly laid for me, For You are my strength. Into Your hand I commit my spirit; You have redeemed me, O LORD God of truth. I have hated those who regard useless idols; But I trust in the LORD. I will be glad and rejoice in Your mercy, For You have considered my trouble; You have known my soul in adversities, And have not shut me up into the hand of the enemy; You have set my feet in a wide place.”

Job 23:17 (NLT) – Darkness is all around me; thick, impenetrable darkness is everywhere.

How to TRUST God Thru Your DARK Times, Pt. 1

1. You must recognize WHEN you are going thru DARK times in your LIFE.

Job 23:1-9 (NLT) – Then Job spoke again: 2 “My complaint today is still a bitter one, and I try hard not to groan aloud. 3 If only I knew where to find God, I would go to his court. 4 I would lay out my case and present my arguments. 5 Then I would listen to his reply and understand what he says to me. 6 Would he use his great power to argue with me? No, he would give me a fair hearing. 7 Honest people can reason with him, so I would be forever acquitted by my judge. 8 I go east, but he is not there. I go west, but I cannot find him. 9 I do not see him in the north, for he is hidden. I look to the south, but he is concealed.

How to TRUST God Thru Your DARK Times, Pt. 2

1. You must CHOOSE to TRUST and OBEY God thru your dark times.

Job 23:17 (NLT) – Darkness is all around me; thick, impenetrable darkness is everywhere.

First, DARKNESS CAN TRIGGER FEAR AND PANIC because it diminishes your sense of control.

Second, DARKNESS CAN CONFUSE YOU, DISORIENTING YOUR SENSES.

Third, DARKNESS LESSENS AND DISTORTS YOUR ABILITY TO PERCEIVE REALITY.

A. You need to realize The LORD KNOWS what you are going thru.

Job 23:10a (NLT) – But he knows where I am going. …

Psa. 23:4 (NKJV) – “Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil; For You are with me; Your rod and Your staff, they comfort me.”

B. You need to believe what you are going thru will ULTIMATELY be for your GOOD.

Job 23:10b (NLT) – …. And when he tests me, I will come out as pure as gold.

Tests –

Romans 8:28 (NKJV) – And we know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are the called according to His purpose.

Philippians 1:6 (NLT) – And I am certain that God, who began the good work within you, will continue his work until it is finally finished on the day when Christ Jesus returns.

C. You need to be FAITHFUL in OBEYING God no matter what.

Job 23:11-12 (NLT) – For I have stayed on God’s paths; I have followed his ways and not turned aside. 12 I have not departed from his commands, but have treasured his words more than daily food.

Revelation 2:10 (NLT) – Don’t be afraid of what you are about to suffer. The devil will throw some of you into prison to test you. You will suffer for ten days. But if you remain faithful even when facing death, I will give you the crown of life.

Isaiah 50:10 (NLT) – Who among you fears the LORD and obeys his servant? If you are walking in darkness, without a ray of light, trust in the LORD and rely on your God.

1 Corinthians 10:13 (NLT) – The temptations in your life are no different from what others experience. And God is faithful. He will not allow the temptation to be more than you can stand. When you are tempted, he will show you a way out so that you can endure.

Questions to Consider

1. What do you think most people consider the darkest time in their life?
2. How do you think most people respond to suffering?
3. Who, if anyone, do people typically blame when they go through dark times?
4. How do you know when you are in dark times?
5. What are some things that can cause you to get to a dark place?
6. What’s the difference between walking around in dark times and walking through dark times?
7. Do you find any encouragement in knowing The LORD knows what you are going thru?
8. Can you look back over your life and see something good that came out of going through a dark time in your life? Explain
9. How can trusting and obeying God help you get through dark times?
10. Is trusting and obeying God in dark times easy or difficult? Explain
11. Why do you think God allows some evil to go unpunished and some suffering to go unexplained?
12. What action(s) do you need to take when you find yourself in a time of darkness?