Job 42:1-6

Job’s friends tried to persuade him that the tragedies in his life were the result of sin. Job knew this was not true. He had trusted in God alone, by grace alone, through faith alone. That initial repentance empowered him to live a life devoted to God. Because God transformed his heart, Job led a blameless, upright, and obedient life. Job never claimed perfection, but he was adamant that, with the Lord’s help, he had been striving to follow him closely. When tragedy struck, Job did not sin against God (Job 1:22; 2:10).

However, during Job’s prolonged suffering, he expressed, “God has worn me out” (Job 16:7). Have you ever felt this way? Amid Job’s emotional anguish from losing his family, his physical distress due to devastating health issues, and his spiritual despair, which made him feel as if God had abandoned him, he raised accusations against the Almighty. Through Job’s pain, bitterness and pride emerged.

Then God confronted Job, and he repented of his sins.

Job 42:5-6 (NLT)
I had only heard about you before, but now I have seen you with my own eyes. I take back everything I said, and I sit in dust and ashes to show my repentance.

There are two aspects of repentance. The first is initial repentance when we trust in Jesus and begin our new life with him. Job, described as blameless, upright, and obedient, exemplified how God transformed his life. The second aspect is ongoing repentance, an essential and frequent practice in every believer’s life. As a believer, Job sinned, and it was necessary for him to engage in ongoing repentance.

We discussed initial repentance last time. Today, let’s get practical and consider the steps of ongoing repentance.

Repentance: Step #1—Conviction of Sin
Conviction is the work of the Holy Spirit in our hearts (John 16:8-11).  The Greek word for convict (Greek: elencho) means to expose. The process of sin involves seeing, wanting, taking, and then hiding. The Holy Spirit’s work of conviction places our sin directly before our eyes so that we can recognize it. Job’s conviction came when God appeared out of the whirlwind and asked Job, “Where were you when I laid the foundation of the earth? Tell me, if you have understanding” (Job 38:4). This initiated a series of questions that left Job silent, humbled, and repentant.

Repentance: Step #2—Owning My Sin
Let’s face it. Most of us don’t want to acknowledge our sins. We may admit that we did what we should not have done or said what we should not have said, but we often blame our actions on someone else. I remember meeting with a couple where the wife had an affair. She said, “Yes, I had an affair. No, I shouldn’t have done it. However, my husband is never home and is more married to his work than to me.” I knew that her husband was frequently away and was addicted to his job. She wasn’t wrong in her statement. However, blaming her husband for her sin did not put her on the path to repentance.

In 2 Corinthians 7:9-10, the apostle Paul discusses “godly sorrow” and “worldly sorrow.” “Godly sorrow,” he explains, “means I acknowledge my sin. I feel convicted and recognize that I have sinned against God,” which leads to repentance. Conversely, “worldly sorrow” reflects embarrassment over being caught and shifts the blame, asserting, “It’s my spouse’s (or kids’, or friend’s, or boss’s, etc.) fault,” while also showing a refusal to change. Paul warns that this mindset leads to destruction.

Job’s accusations against God were bold, even brazen. But when God questioned him, Job owned his sin. Job said,

Job 40:4-5
“Behold, I am of small account; what shall I answer you? I lay my hand on my mouth. ⁵ I have spoken once, and I will not answer; twice, but I will proceed no further.”

Repentance: Step #3—Confession of Sin
Confession is simply the act of accepting and admitting our disobedience before God. It involves saying, “God, this is what I have done. I acknowledge my sin. I feel the weight of your conviction. I have no excuses. There is no one to blame but myself. I take full responsibility. I am sorry.” David expressed it this way:

Psalm 32:5 (NIV)
Then I acknowledged my sin to you and did not cover up my iniquity. I said, “I will confess my transgressions to the Lord.” And you forgave the guilt of my sin.

Repentance: Step #4—Turning from My Sin
Turning from sin involves a decision and a prayerful plan. The decision is a conscious choice to stop engaging in the sin that the Holy Spirit has revealed and convicted you of. The plan is a strategy for establishing protective barriers to avoid this sin. This may include seeking professional counseling, joining a support group focused on your area of temptation, or enlisting individuals who will hold you accountable. We all need a prayerful plan with a practical strategy.

The word ‘strategy’ originates from two Greek terms—stratos (army) and agein (lead)—which together mean to lead an army. We are engaged in a battle. To lead an army, you need an army to lead, so gather a community of others around you to assist, provide godly advice, and ensure your accountability.

There’s an adage that says,

If you fail to plan, you plan to fail.

Acknowledge the Holy Spirit’s conviction, take responsibility for your sin, confess it, turn away from it, and create a prayerful strategy to guard against that sin. This is true repentance.

PERSONAL TIME WITH GOD
Read Job 42:1-6. Focus on the steps of ongoing repentance.

Talking to God
Do you need to confess and repent for anything? Follow the four-step process to take the necessary action.

Have Questions?
Be sure to send your questions to our team. We are happy to assist you as you explore God’s Word. Submit your question below, and we’ll reply soon. And if you don’t know where you stand with Jesus, we would love to have that conversation with you.