Job 29

In this chapter, Job reminisces about the past, remembering what it was like before he met with all his misfortune. Not only did he enjoy God’s intimate friendship (vs 4), but he was respected and honored in his community (vs 7-8), and he spoke with an air of authority (vs 21-22). At that time, Job felt like his legacy would go on forever: "Then I said, 'I shall die in my nest, and multiply my days as the sand.'" (vs 18)

But now, Job believes all those days are in the past. He thinks his best days are behind him. He believes he has lost God’s friendship and is destined to die old, miserable, and alone.

But Job is wrong. His best days were still in front of him. That’s how it always is when we are friends with the Almighty. With God, our best days are always in front of us. God has a future for you and me just as He did for Job.

And did you notice that the things Job remembered so fondly were all things that were in God’s future for him? Not only was Job once respected and honored in his community, but he has been revered ever since in the pages of Scripture. Not only did Job once speak with an air of authority, but at the end of his story, God Himself declared that Job spoke what is right. And not only did Job once feel that his legacy was immortal, but his legacy has persevered for thousands of years. His story is still touching lives today.

So, it’s not that it’s bad to reminisce about the past. But in so doing, don’t be tempted to think that your best days are behind you. Learn this lesson from Job’s story: with God, your best days are always ahead of you. He has plans for your future, and they are even better than you can imagine!