Faith that Suffers
Many are burdened with suffering today.
If your life has been free from suffering, fasten your seat belt because suffering visits each of us at some time during our lives. Suffering can show up at any time, anywhere, with anybody. Some suffering lasts a short while others never seem to quit as long as we live. Some of the greatest heroes of the Bible went through tremendous suffering.
If you are troubled by suffering or grief, the real-life story of Job will surely bring you hope.
Job was a righteous man who served God with his whole heart.
and he endured suffering on many levels.
His possessions were destroyed, his children were killed, and his health was ruined. Like Job, we too, lose things. Possessions, our health, loved ones, etc.
Understandably, Job didn't understand his suffering and anguish. His wife didn't understand either, and she offered bad advice. His friends didn't understand, and they turned on him. Job ended up devastated at every point- emotionally, physically, relationally, and spiritually.
"They suffer painfully: their life is full of Trouble," (Job 14:22)
Job invites us to honestly bring our pain to God, trust that he cares, and realize that he knows exactly what he is doing- even when we do not.
God taught Job that it is better to know God than to know all the answers/
Job didn't need to know why he was suffering. He needed to know who- Who was in control, who loved him, and who would always be with him in his suffering.
Job needed a new understanding of God.
Rather than tell Job the reason for his suffering, God assured Job of his love, wisdom, and power. We usually learn the greatest lessons in times of trials and grief. Job learned the hard lesson that when everything is stripped away from our lives, all we have is God. and God is enough!
If all we ever had was GOd, we would still have more than enough!
No matter how bad life gets, God's love and His grace are enough. God gives us His presence, His word, and His people to help us in our trials.
And that is enough!
“You’re born. You suffer. You die.
Fortunately, there’s a loophole."
-Billy Graham
If we know Christ as Lord and Savoir, we have the hope of heaven, where "He will wipe away every tear from their eyes, and death shall be no more, neither shall there be mourning, nor crying, nor pain anymore, for the former things have passed away. " (Revelation 21:4)
Like Job, suffering tests our faith.
Suffering can either strengthen our faith, or it can shatter our faith.
The choice is ours.
We will have to make the choice: our suffering can either drive us into God's arms or suffering will cause us to walk away. I pray you make the right choice today. I pray that you learn to trust.
Trust in God's infinite wisdom.
Trust in God's perfect love for you.
Seek God's presence in the midst of your pain. Our Lord, who still bears the scars of the cross, stands with arms open wide to comfort you with his loving presence.
Are you going to run to Him or run from Him?
Scripture:
And after my skin has been thus destroyed. yet in my flesh I shall see God,
Whom I shall see for myself and my eyes shall behold, and not another.
My heart faints within me!
(Job 19: 25-27)
