Job 30:26-28
But when I hoped for good, evil came,
and when I waited for light, darkness came.
My inward parts are in turmoil and never still;
days of affliction come to meet me.
I go about darkened, but not by the sun;
I stand up in the assembly and cry for help.
Bible Gateway link
But when I hoped for good, evil came,
and when I waited for light, darkness came.
My inward parts are in turmoil and never still;
days of affliction come to meet me.
I go about darkened, but not by the sun;
I stand up in the assembly and cry for help.
Bible Gateway link
I needed this reminder more than you know today. Thanks
ReplyDeleteThe question that always comes in deep suffering is "WHY?" That's the wrong question; it should be "WHO?" At the bottom of Job's suffering is a naked longing for God. Job's cry is not, "Why have you ruined my life?" His cry is, "God, why have You left me?" He misses the thick presence of God. In Job 29: 2-6 Oh, that I were as in the months of old, as in the days when God watched over me, when his lamp shown on my head, and by his light I walk through darkness; as I was in my prime, when friendship of God was upon my tent, when the Almighty was yet with me, when my children were all around me, when my steps were washed with butter, and the rock poured out for me streams of oil! (ESV)
DeleteIn light of everything Job had lost, what he felt most acutely was God's absence. If there is a longing for God to come back, it means that we know Him, because if we did not know God, there would be no longing for His return.
In His absence, our appreciation, dependence, and affection for God are increased which leads to greater freedom and liberation. Job would rather not live at all than live in a world without the thick, comforting presence of God in the most difficult times. God withdraws from us in order to make our souls long for Him even more!
Thank you so much for this comment. It is very insightful and helpful. Thanks for taking the time to comment.
DeleteBless you.
Kim
Jack, thanks for commenting. I write this blog never knowing who is going to read it or who is going to need what they read, but I know our faithful God uses his people to do exactly what needs doing at exactly the right moment. I ask the Holy Spirit to guide me so we have him to thank. Bless you, Kim
DeleteI read a lot of your blogs. I get a lot out of them even though I don't post up replies. I fight depression a lot in my life and this post was really spot on for where I am at right now.
DeleteI used to speak some. God impressed on me that it was my job to sow seed and he will see to the rest. Keep sowing, you have a gift for it. Let Him keep score, just keep on sowing.
God bless and thanks for the efforts. His word will not come back void.
Thank you so much from a fellow sufferer. Bless you.
DeleteThe hard thing to remember is, "I will never leave you or forsake you." Deut 31:8, Heb 13:5. We learn more about the love of God in our suffering than in times of blessing. The only problem is, we don't appreciate until after the suffering ends.
ReplyDeleteI'm not sure. I don't like suffering, but the older I get the more I realize that while it is going on I'm learning something I need to learn from it. I think it is pure grace, but it amuses me to try to figure out what I'm supposed to learn from my suffering this time.
DeleteI have been out of work for 2 months with various health concerns. During this time I have prayed more than I've ever prayed in my life.During this time most of what I have prayed about has not come to pass yet.Most of the time I felt on my own wondering where my Father is. One time the pain I was feeling was so bad that I called out to God and suddenly everything calmed down and I felt a peace within me. It was like He was telling me everything was going to be ok. Oh How I Praise God for moments like that. But truthfully virtually all of the time I have to walk by faith without any feelings that He is with me. It is very difficult to do at times but because I have experienced His presence and know that He does exist and is real , I keep trusting and believing when at times I feel completely alone. Oh how I long for heaven when all these perplexing trials are no more. As someone once said in a song " Oh Happy Day "
ReplyDeleteDear David,
DeleteThat moment of peace is so real and so unexpected it is always clear to me that it is directly from God. It gives me hope during all the times when my prayers don't seem to be answered. I once asked God to please just take me. I was ready and I was so tired of the struggle. I heard Him say very clearly to me "I need you to live." So live I do. His purpose for me is active and I just have to hang in there and obey.
1 Cor 2: 9 but just as it is written, "Things which eye as not seen and ear has not heard, and which have not entered the heart of man, all that God has prepared for those who love Him."
ReplyDeleteThere have been dark times in my life, where I have said to God, "If I did not have Your Word, I would have nothing." God is not apprehended empirically, but accepted by faith, and believed objectively. Praise His name!
Nobody can "escape" troubles; Job's tests which became very afflicting and personal did not cause him to abandon God. Even his wife could not turn him from God. Enter three friends convinced Job sinned somehow, first with sympathy and then with advice. Job wavers asking God for his life (suffering) to end. Why, God, "did you bring me out of the womb?" Job cries out. His three friends cannot find an answer. Finally, another man, younger, brings it all into perspective: TRUST GOD. Yet, was this enough to satisfy Job's anguish. So often, I have trusted in human advice and not in God's advice. No longer; I cherish the grace God has to offer; His ever-presence in my life. I cannot hope understand why God is who He says He is. FAITH.
ReplyDeleteDear Anonymous,
ReplyDeleteI agree. Faith is the only answer. But sometimes God does speak to us through other people, or through their actions. He also comforts us through people. On the other hand people often have the wrong, or bad advice and are as discomforting as it is possible to be. Grace helps us discern and I've noticed knowledge of God's word helps us with both grace and discernment.