Tomorrow night the streets fill up with costumes and candy, and a lot of people get fascinated with the dark. Tonight I’d rather sit down with my kids and talk about a man who walked through the real thing and never let go of God.

His name was Job. He loved God, and every time his children had a party, he got up early the next morning and prayed for every one of them. He wanted to cover them before anything went wrong.

Then everything did go wrong. In one day Job lost his animals, his workers, and his children. I don’t even want to think about that. But here’s what he did. He fell to the ground and said, “The LORD gave and the LORD has taken away; blessed be the name of the LORD.” He cried. He didn’t pretend it was okay. He just didn’t let go of God.

It got harder. He got sick. His friends sat with him in silence for seven days, which might have been the best thing they ever did. Job asked God hard questions, and God let him. Then God answered, and Job said, “I had heard of you by word of mouth, but now my eye has seen you.” He never got an explanation. He got God.

In the end the LORD blessed Job again. But the real glory isn’t getting things back. Christ went through the worst loss there is and came out the other side, and he brings us with him. As for me and my house, we will serve the LORD.

Questions for the Little Ones

Let them answer first. There are no wrong answers, and it’s okay if you don’t have all the answers either.

1. Have you ever lost something you really loved? How did that feel?
2. Job still said thank you to God when he was sad. Is that hard to do? Why?
3. Job prayed for his family every day. Who do you pray for? Can we pray for them together right now?
4. Where do you feel closest to God?
5. If you could ask God one question, what would it be?

When you’re done, make the Sign of the Cross on each child’s forehead, say their name, and pray over them: “The LORD bless you and keep you. The LORD let his face shine upon you, and be gracious to you. The LORD look upon you kindly and give you peace.” (Numbers 6:24-26)

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Today’s Bible Study

Read: Job 1:13-22

Context: Job is one of the Wisdom books, the story of a righteous man who suffers terribly and doesn’t know why.

What the Church sees in it: Saint James holds Job up as an example of endurance (James 5:11), and the Church has long seen his suffering pointing toward Christ.

Sit with this: When something hard hits our house, will my kids see me run toward God or away from him?

Recommended Reading

After the kids are in bed, listen to Brandon Lake’s song “Me and My House.” Its title echoes Joshua 24:15, and it fits tonight. The Prayers page also has the Prayer to St. Michael if you want to pray it together as a family.