What a way to begin a journey of lessons from the Book of Job. You have to understand that it was the leading of the Holy Spirit that led me to this book. I began by comparing my life to Job’s. He had a nice home and both sons and daughters. He possessed what we would call “The American Dream.” I compared my possessions to his. I was making good money because of my “natural” talents. I had been married, and now I was a widow three times in a row. [that’s another lesson]

I have almost had the “American Dream.” Everything I had I lost. My husbands died. I gave up my four-bedroom home to husband’s oldest sister. She believed the home was hers.

I had two sons. One son broke my heart because of all his arrests. I lost my firstborn to the law. I had to go on food stamps. My health went down. Suddenly, what I considered as my “American Dream,” I was reminded of what Job lost. He had a wife who disrespected God, and her husband’s faith in God. Everybody in my town pitied me. Lies and truth intermingled until I lost my reputation as a woman of faith.

There was one woman who stood by my side until God removed her too. By that time, I had gotten over a lot, but I learned a lesson. That “lesson” stays with me now. My heart’s desire should not even be on me. I need to search the Heart of God—His desires are mine. Needs are no longer important. The “Jones’ possessions” are theirs and not mine. Whatever I have really is His. It is on loan to be, and I must treat His possessions right. They are for the kingdom of God—not for my pleasure.

Do not get me wrong, but I realized that my priorities were wrong. I did not lose my children, but I was not a good witness for the Lord when it came to my sons. Job offered sacrifices on a daily basis—just in case they sinned. I was too busy grieving and having nervous breakdowns. I was too self-absorbed.

Remember what Job lost. Remember that I lost my son to lawlessness. I could not even fight for what my husband left me. I lost the home he bought me. I lost myself because I thought I had arrived. Job’s losses were nothing like mine. He continued to serve the Lord even if though he was sick. I lost a lot of things, but my faith in God got weak until the ministry of the Holy Spirit began to deal with me.