No More False Labels

" So the LORD blessed the latter end of Job more than his beginning..."  

Job 42:12

She's the woman who...

She's the wife of the man who...

She's the mother of the kid who...

She's the type of friend who...

She's the daughter of the woman who..

How many times have we been labeled or defined by words which simply get under our skin? We all have had "issues" and circumstances in our lives with which we'd rather not be associated with. Maybe it was a reputation we were suddenly highlighted with at the hand of someone who started a devilish line of gossip concerning us. Or perhaps it was the light in which we appeared after something quite unfortunately, beyond our control, defined a particular season of our life. Whichever the case, the words attached to the end of those sentences can often carry a giant sting and we attempt to hide ourselves away until the pain ceases.

There are people everywhere who are hurting by the sting of life. The Bible says we're only in this world a few days and we're full of trouble. (Job 14:1) In fact, while we're talking about  Job, think about all the words and phrases that could have been added to the end of his name. He went through tumultuous times during his life. He lost just about everything. Had he sinned? Had he been the cause of his own pain? Was he labeled as the "father who lost all his children in just a single day?" I wonder how others looked at him? What might have been said behind closed doors? Did they wonder what had he done, what terrible sin, to cause such devastation to come upon his life? Did they size him up according to what things looked like?

Yet, he was a man who God referred to as "...my servant Job, that there is none like him in the earth, a perfect and an upright man, one that feareth God, and escheweth evil..." (Job 1:8) He had done nothing wrong! He was simply going about his business doing life and the problems were brought to him served upon a silver platter from the very source of darkness itself. Job loved God, tried his best to live righteously, yet he had to live with the knowledge of knowing people were sizing him and his situation up. Not only did he have to deal with tragedy and loss within his life, he had to sort through all kinds of mental garbage that piled up as people would look on his life and define him as "Job, the man who..." I know, it was the same way in the Bible days, that's the nature of humans.

Yes, Job had to get himself back on track at times, but God was there through it all. Even when it seems almost impossible to do, let's not allow the labels of our circumstances to cause us to doubt God or who we are in Him. Let's not become distracted by the labels others place upon us. Though it may cause deep pain, when the wounds are carelessly ripped open again and again...know that those labels won't last always. It came to pass...there will be a time of mending. 

We have the promises of God to stand upon. We can press on knowing God is fighting for us and that our end will be just like Jobs. The LORD blessed the latter end of Job more than his beginning...that was a reflection of Job's TRUE label. My friend, it can be yours too...don't be discouraged by a temporary label...after all, it should really say: She's the woman who...is a child of the King. Her latter end will be greater than her beginning! I don't know about you, but I don't want to be sized up any other way, NO MORE FALSE LABELS FOR ME!

Dear God,

Help me to remember that 

no matter what comes into my life,

You are more than enough!

No matter what others label me as

You have great plans for my future

And only You can bring them to pass.

Help me to be patient and stand

upon your unfailing promises.

Remind me who I am in 

YOU!