The Lord gave and the Lord has taken away

We all know the story of Job, the man who suffered many calamities, who suddenly lost practically everything he had: Riches, children, etc. This story has not only been an example of everything that can happen to a man of God, but also an example of fidelity to God, an example of God restoring man and that we must go through fire to be tested.

Let’s see this quote about Job:

20 At this, Job got up and tore his robe and shaved his head. Then he fell to the ground in worship
21 and said:
“Naked I came from my mother’s womb,
and naked I will depart.
The Lord gave and the Lord has taken away;
may the name of the Lord be praised.”
22 In all this, Job did not sin by charging God with wrongdoing.
Job 1:20-22

Possibly verse 21 of this text has become one of the most remembered verses in the Bible, specifically the phrase: The Lord gave, and the Lord took away. Do you realize? Job had lost his material assets, he was a too rich man, however, we see that he was not even clinging to his possessions, since despite of losing everything he understood that he was born naked and that he would die in the same way.

Material goods should not be the most important for us either, since one day we will die and we will not be able to take anything away. The attitude that we must follow is that of Job. If we have a correct concept of this, then we will know how to live the Christian life correctly.

Job was also clear that just as God gives us something He can take it from us, and that if we bless God when He gives us something we should also bless Him when He takes something away, even if the situation is exasperating, just as happened with this fearful man of God .
The most important thing is that despite all the situations that Job was going through, he never sinned against our blessed God. In this same way, we ask God to keep us firm in the face of any eventuality of life.

The experience of Job continues to be one of the most powerful testimonies of perseverance and trust recorded in the Scriptures. His story is not only about suffering but about perspective—how a believer should stand when everything seems to collapse. Job understood something that many of us forget: our lives, our possessions, and even the moments of joy we experience are gifts from God. Nothing belongs to us permanently, and that is why Job’s response becomes so admirable. Instead of accusing God, he bowed in worship. That act alone teaches us that true devotion is not conditioned upon circumstances but rooted in a heart fully surrendered to the sovereignty of God.

Another important element is the emotional transparency of Job. The Scripture says he tore his robe and shaved his head—symbols of deep sorrow in ancient times. Job did not pretend to be strong or hide what he felt. Yet even in the midst of anguish, he chose to worship. This balance between expressing human pain and maintaining spiritual trust is one of the greatest lessons of his life. God never demanded that Job suppress his emotions; He only desired that Job remained faithful despite them.

Today many believers struggle with sudden losses—loss of health, finances, family stability, or dreams they had cherished for years. Job’s reaction invites us to reflect: How do we respond when something we cherish is removed? Do we worship or complain? Do we trust or accuse? Job’s famous declaration, “The Lord gave and the Lord has taken away,” is not an expression of resignation but one of profound acknowledgment that God remains good, even when life is not. That is true faith.

It is also comforting to remember that Job’s story does not end in tragedy. After his trial, God restored him and blessed him more than before. This shows that suffering is not the final chapter for those who love the Lord. Even when we cannot see the outcome, God is working behind the scenes, shaping our character, strengthening our spirit, and preparing a greater weight of glory. The trials that seem unbearable today may very well be the tools God uses to refine us tomorrow.

Therefore, as we meditate on Job’s example, we should ask the Lord to produce in us the same integrity and steadfastness. May we learn to bless God at all times—during abundance and scarcity, joy and sorrow, victory and loss. For the God who sustained Job is the same God who sustains us today, and His purposes are always perfect, even when we do not understand them.