Job 2:9-10 – [Job's] wife said to him, "Are you still holding on to your integrity? Curse God and die!" He replied, "You are talking like a foolish woman. Shall we accept good from God, and not trouble?" In all this, Job did not sin in what he said. (NIV)

In a Peanuts cartoon, Lucy wrote an essay the first day back at school. She wrote, "Vacations are nice, but it's good to get back to school. There is nothing more satisfying or challenging than education, and I look forward to a year of expanding knowledge." The teacher was suitably impressed with Lucy's thoughts and complimented her on her fine essay. In the final frame Lucy leaned over to Charlie Brown and whispered, "After a while, you learn what sells."

The temptation to do what sells, to give in to what suits, is always with us. It is a constant challenge to our personal integrity.

Job's wife had an opinion about integrity at the beginning of his suffering. But Job could not curse God. If Job cursed God, it would go against everything he believed about God and himself.

Sometimes, life can feel like we are in the middle of a contest between God and Satan.

• We wonder how much more we can take.
• We wonder where we will find the strength.
• We wonder where God is and why He is allowing such pain.

Integrity does not mean accepting life's difficulties with a rosy outlook or a Pollyanna attitude. It allows for the depression and the questioning and the anger which sometimes go hand in hand with suffering. But it also allows for holding on to God.

Prayer: Lord, in the very midst of our struggles, we cling to You, and in doing so, we cling to our integrity — that wholeness which is so often threatened by the pressures of life. Thank You for Your Spirit, Who gives us the strength to hold on. In Jesus' name, we pray. Amen.

Walking on the campus of a famous law school, a man fell into conversation with a student. The man asked the student, "When you have completed your studies, what do you intend to do?
"I shall take my Doctor's degree."
"And then?" asked the man.
"Then I shall impress everyone with my eloquence and learning and gain a great reputation."
"And then?"
"Then I shall be promoted to a high office and make money and grow rich."

"And then?"
"Then I shall live comfortably in wealth and dignity."
"And then?"
"Then I suppose I shall die."
"And what then?"
The student made no answer. Hanging his head he walked away.

We live our lives with many "And thens." Ultimately — inevitably we will be faced with the final "And then?"

In today's verse, Jesus' friend Lazarus had died. There was no doubt about it. He had been dead and buried for four days. Jesus arrived to hear the grief and pain from Lazarus' sisters, Martha and Mary. Jesus offered assurance by saying that Lazarus would rise again. He proclaimed His most wonderful promise to them: "I am the resurrection and the life. He who believes in me shall live, even though he dies; and whoever lives and believes in me shall never die." The life Jesus spoke of is spiritual life. It's the life that is lived with and for God. It's life that is eternal, but it doesn't start in the future at the point of death — it starts with faith in this lifetime. Jesus Christ lives. Through faith, He shares with us His victory over death. This isn't just a wish. It's not just a gamble. It's not an investment that may or may not pay off. It is our assurance.

At the final "And then?" we will not hang our heads. Instead, we will raise our heads in victory and join Christ in saying, "I am the resurrection and the life!"

Prayer: Lord we give you thanks for the blessed assurance that is ours that allows us to face life and death knowing your care is eternal. Amen.

In a Peanuts cartoon, Lucy wrote an essay the first day back at school. She wrote, "Vacations are nice, but it's good to get back to school. There is nothing more satisfying or challenging than education, and I look forward to a year of expanding knowledge." The teacher was suitably impressed with Lucy's thoughts and complimented her on her fine essay. In the final frame Lucy leaned over to Charlie Brown and whispered, "After a while, you learn what sells."

The temptation to do what sells, to give in to what suits, is always with us. It is a constant challenge to our personal integrity.

Job's wife had an opinion about integrity at the beginning of his suffering. But Job could not curse God. If Job cursed God it would go against everything he believed about God and himself.

Sometimes life can feel like we are in the middle of a contest between God and Satan.
We wonder how much more we can take.
We wonder where we will find the strength.
We wonder where God is and why He is allowing such pain.

Integrity does not mean accepting life's difficulties with a rosy outlook or a Pollyanna attitude. It allows for the depression and the questioning and the anger which sometimes go hand in hand with suffering. But it also allows for holding on to God.

Prayer: Lord in the very midst of our struggles we cling to you, and in doing so we cling to our integrity — that wholeness which is so often threatened by the pressures of life. Thank you for your Spirit who gives us the strength to hold on. In Jesus' name. Amen.