Victory in 2024

How can we look forward to victory in 2024? As if 2023 wasn’t challenging enough in every possible way we can name, experts have predicted an even tougher year is ahead. Where do we look for comfort and hope for these days?

God’s Word of Truth is the only place we can find comfort and hope to live victoriously. Interestingly, the Book of Job supplies several keys that will usher us into a year of victory. Let’s begin with the first two chapters where God converses with Satan.

Key #1: God’s wisdom and power control Satan

The Lord said to Satan, ‘Have you considered My servant Job? For there is no one like him on the earth, a blameless and upright man, fearing God and turning away from evil.’ Then Satan answered the Lord, ‘Does Job fear God for nothing? Have You not made a fence around him and his house and all that he has, on every side? You have blessed the work of his hands, and his possessions have increased in the land.‘

Job 1:8-10 NASB

Right away we discern the vast difference between God’s and Satan’s views as they discuss Job’s character. God portrays Job spiritually as the most upright man on earth–blameless, fearing God, and shunning evil.

But Satan views Job as only using God to gain material blessings. He claims that if God removes Job’s possessions and blessings, Job will curse God.

Permission for the first test

‘But reach out with Your hand now and touch all that he has; he will certainly curse You to Your face.’ Then the Lord said to Satan, ‘Behold, all that he has is in your power; only do not reach out and put your hand on him.’

Job 1:11-12a NASB

Then Satan kamikazed all of Job’s livestock, children, and servants. One messenger after another brought news of death and theft. Job lost his oxen, donkeys, sheep, camels, and servants. Worst of all was the news that a great wind had caused the death of his ten children as they ate together in the house of their oldest brother (read about it HERE).

What was Job’s response?

Then Job got up, tore his robe, and shaved his head; then he fell to the ground and worshiped. He said,

‘Naked I came from my mother’s womb,
And naked I shall return there.
The Lord gave and the Lord has taken away.
Blessed be the name of the Lord.’

Despite all this, Job did not sin, nor did he blame God.

Job 1:20-22 NASB

That might have been the end of the story, but God continued His conversation with Satan about Job. Job had proved Satan wrong, and God reminded Satan of it.

The Lord said to Satan, ‘Have you considered My servant Job? For there is no one like him on the earth, a blameless and upright man fearing God and turning away from evil. And he still holds firm to his integrity, although you incited Me against him to ruin him without cause.‘

Job 2:3 NASB

Permission for the second test

Satan answered the Lord and said, ‘Skin for skin! Yes, all that a man has, he will give for his life. However, reach out with Your hand now, and touch his bone and his flesh; he will curse You to Your face!’ So the Lord said to Satan, ‘Behold, he is in your power, only spare his life.‘

JOb 2:4-6 NASB

This time Satan struck Job with painful boils from head to foot. As he sat in ashes scraping his pus-filled sores, even his wife attacked him for holding on to his integrity, telling him to curse God and die.

But he said to her, ‘You are speaking as one of the foolish women speaks. Shall we actually accept good from God but not accept adversity?’ Despite all this, Job did not sin with his lips.

Job 2:10 NASB

Takeaway from Key #1

God limits Satan’s power of destruction.

Our assurance of victory in 2024 is the comfort of knowing that nothing can happen to us unless God allows it. Yes, we may have tests like Job, but they have a righteous purpose. They prove to Satan that we true believers will never be moved to reject our faith in God, no matter what.

Additionally, our faith is not built on amassing material possessions, as Satan’s viewpoint revealed. God’s favor builds character and integrity in us. God is not playing Santa Claus and handing out gifts to the “good boys and girls.” Our trials don’t mean that God is punishing us as we live righteous lives. On the contrary, they build our faith and produce patience as we learn to endure. God transforms us into mighty soldiers in His army of Saints (read James 1:2-4 HERE).

Key #2: Pride goes before a fall

Satan may have learned that he can’t destroy the faith of true believers by destroying their material possessions and taking away their health. But what did Job learn?

Beginning with Job Chapter 3, Job and his friends have a lengthy discussion to analyze why God has punished Job so severely. During their conversations, Job wishes he had never been born. He holds the opinion that he has not sinned and doesn’t deserve to be treated like this. His friends also claim that God only punishes people for sin, so therefore Job must have done something for these disasters to have befallen him. Job rejects his friends’ opinions, but their arguments continue until God Himself intervenes and converses with Job.

Then the Lord answered Job from the whirlwind and said,

‘Who is this who darkens the divine plan
By words without knowledge?
Now tighten the belt on your waist like a man,
And I shall ask you, and you inform Me!‘

Job 38:1-3 NASB

God dresses down Job

We learn so much in the next two chapters where God dresses down Job for his impertinence (read it HERE). After a lengthy discourse where God displays His power through the creation of the world and its creatures, He asks Job, “Will the faultfinder contend with the Almighty? Let him who rebukes God give an answer” (Job 40:2 NASB).

God’s words pierced Job’s heart. He replied in humility:

‘Behold, I am insignificant; what can I say in response to You?
I put my hand on my mouth.
I have spoken once, and I will not reply;
Or twice, and I will add nothing more.‘

Job 40:4-5 NASB

Then God answered Job out of the whirlwind.

‘Now tighten the belt on your waist like a man;
I will ask you, and you instruct Me.
Will you really nullify My judgment?
Will you condemn Me so that you may be justified?
Or do you have an arm like God,
And can you thunder with a voice like His?

Adorn yourself with pride and dignity,
And clothe yourself with honor and majesty.
Let out your outbursts of anger,
And look at everyone who is arrogant, and humble him.
Look at everyone who is arrogant, and humble him,
And trample down the wicked where they stand.
Hide them together in the dust;
Imprison them in the hidden place.
Then I will also confess to you,
That your own right hand can save you.‘

Job 40:7-14 NASB

God’s anger seemed tinged with sarcasm, as He challenged Job to prove he was as powerful as God. Then God continued, revealing His power over creatures (read HERE).

Job answered with humility and repentance.

‘I know that You can do all things,
And that no plan is impossible for You.
Who is this who conceals advice without knowledge?
Therefore I have declared that which I did not understand,
Things too wonderful for me, which I do not know.
Please listen, and I will speak;
I will ask You, and You instruct me.
I have heard of You by the hearing of the ear;
But now my eye sees You;
Therefore I retract,
And I repent, sitting on dust and ashes.‘

Job 42:2-6 NASB

After all the suffering and heartache Job had experienced, God Himself showed up and revealed His power and majesty to him. Job needed to repent from the sin of pride, which he readily did.

None of the empty conversations of Job and his friends explained God correctly, and God was displeased with Job’s friends. God instructed his friends to present a sin offering and for Job to pray for them. Afterward, God accepted Job.

The ending to Job’s story was a victorious one. God restored Job’s fortunes and doubled all he had. His brothers, sisters, and other acquaintances gathered to eat with Job, and each gave him money and a gold ring. God vastly multiplied his livestock and gave him ten more children–seven sons and three lovely daughters, known for their great beauty in all the land. Then Job was blessed with another 140 years of life and saw four generations of his children and grandchildren. “And Job died, an old man and full of days” (Job 42:17 NASB).

Takeaway from Key #2

Let’s rid our souls of the sin of pride.

Job lived a blameless, upright life by fearing God and turning away from evil. However, his good deeds didn’t preclude him from trials and suffering. But, his solid faith in God strengthened him to get through them. In contrast, these trials also uncovered hidden pride, revealed when he encountered God face-to-face.

The key to ridding ourselves of hidden pride is to have a close personal relationship with Jesus. Kneeling in His holy presence in true repentance is the only way we can be free of sin. Therefore, we can be confident of our personal salvation and eternity with the Lord through Christ’s shed blood.

Therefore, no matter what trials we will face personally and nationally in 2024, we know God will be with us and give us victory through them all.

Developing a close, personal relationship with Jesus, prayer, and daily reading and study of the Word of God will give us the strength we need to weather the coming storms of this next year. Yes, the storms will come. Let’s be ready to face them with Christ at the helm of our ship.

How can we have victory in 2024? We can face this new year because God is on His throne, and Jesus His Son is seated beside Him in heaven. We have the Word of God, the anchor of our faith. Its Truth is the same yesterday, today, and forever. The Holy Spirit resides in our hearts to comfort, teach, and guide us with God’s wisdom, truth, and grace. And our ultimate comfort and hope is in knowing that Jesus is coming again soon.

Let’s conclude with the Apostle Peter’s words as our prayer:

Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who according to His great mercy has caused us to be born again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, to obtain an inheritance which is imperishable, undefiled, and will not fade away, reserved in heaven for you, who are protected by the power of God through faith for a salvation ready to be revealed in the last time. In this you greatly rejoice, even though now for a little while, if necessary, you have been distressed by various trials, so that the proof of your faith, being more precious than gold which perishes though tested by fire, may be found to result in praise, glory, and honor at the revelation of Jesus Christ; and though you have not seen Him, you love Him, and though you do not see Him now, but believe in Him, you greatly rejoice with joy inexpressible and full of glory, obtaining as the outcome of your faith, the salvation of your souls.

1 Peter 1:3-9 NASB

May we go forward in victory in 2024 as we ring in the New Year.

Victory in 2024 by Karen Jurgens Copyright © 2023 All Rights Reserved.