My goal is that pastorally I would, for those of you who will agree and have it, I will build into your mind just a little more firmly, perhaps than is already there, a vision of God, of heaven, of life, of hell, of suffering,

of Christ, of the ways of providence that will establish you so deeply that when the wave

breaks over you, you won't lose your footing and get mad at God.

We all realize there are times when life just upends you.

And in that moment, what you believe about God either holds or it doesn't.

I'm Dan Kruver.

In this episode of Light and Truth, John Piper urges us to prepare for those times, not by pretending

they won't come, but by building our lives on the God who is sovereign over everything.

This message was originally delivered at the Cove in Asheville, North Carolina, on July 14, 2000.

Let's pray together.

Scarcely for a righteous man would one die,

yet perchance for a good man one might even dare to die but you father commend your love toward us in that while we were yet sinners Christ died for us what a rock what a foundation to stand on tonight as we look at the book of Job.

And I thank you for it with all my heart, as we all do.

And now, Lord, I ask for your help in handling this massive book of 42 chapters

and this massive truth of your love and mercy

and sovereignty and suffering.

I ask that you would keep me faithful to the Word and balanced biblically with affections

in my heart that correspond to the truth of the page.

And I ask for my listeners that they would have minds to grasp and hearts to embrace the beauty of

what is revealed here. We pray with the psalmist, open our eyes that we may behold wonderful

things out of your law.

Guard us from the evil one, his distortions and distractions, I pray.

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