- Mark Lane
Job 30:20-22 "I cry out to you, O God, but you do
not answer; I stand up, but you merely look at me.
21 You turn on me ruthlessly; with the might of
your hand you attack me. 22 You snatch me up and
drive me before the wind; you toss me about in the
storm. (NIV)
Have you ever felt this way? Like God had turned
His back on you? And then, when you cried out in
despair, He would turn angrily at you like a frustrated
parent with a spoiled child. The place we are to
turn to as a refuge in storms and trials seems to
become closed to us. It is in these moments that
seem so powerfully dark that even the strongest
faith may waiver.
Not unlike Job, it is not unusual for believers
around us to say such warm and compassionate things
as, "there must be some sin in your life". I suppose
it is not an impossibility, but trials are not all
because we've blown it. God is a so patient with
us. He will chide us, He will correct us sternly
at times. We are His children and we will be corrected
- in love. It may be firm, but never harsh or cruel.
In this case, Job was being showcased by God to
the enemy. He was hardly being punished for bad
behavior. Comments like the one above are like throwing
an anchor to a drowning man in the middle of the
ocean.
Many people are uncomfortable around someone going
through a difficult time. Sadness and confusion
are not always easy to be around. That is, until
you see the smile in the eyes of someone who is
glad you took a moment to just be with them and
lighten his day for a little while. Do that a few
times and your discomfort will quickly be replaced
with compassion and hope to give to that person
in need of it. And if there is some sin in that
person's life or not, they will need a friend who
will stick by them.
2 Cor 1:3-7 Praise be to the God and Father of
our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of compassion
and the God of all comfort, 4 who comforts us in
all our troubles, so that we can comfort those in
any trouble with the comfort we ourselves have received
from God. 5 For just as the sufferings of Christ
flow over into our lives, so also through Christ
our comfort overflows. 6 If we are distressed, it
is for your comfort and salvation; if we are comforted,
it is for your comfort, which produces in you patient
endurance of the same sufferings we suffer. 7 And
our hope for you is firm, because we know that just
as you share in our sufferings, so also you share
in our comfort. (NIV) Lessons learned in difficulties
are painful ones, but they are long lasting. Comfort
makes trouble more able to be endured, teaching
us patience. In all things there are anchors to
our souls like our salvation. The comfort and joy
that is there in that acceptance and certainty may
be obscured, but can never be taken from us. If
you can honestly let that person know that you have
struggled through the same thing, he is no longer
alone in that struggle. This kind of encouragement
is priceless. There is also the knowledge that,
even in the deepest pain or rejection, God will
never leave us and that nothing can take us from
His protecting hand.
John 10:27-30 "My sheep hear My voice, and I know
them, and they follow Me; 28 and I give eternal
life to them, and they shall never perish; and no
one shall snatch them out of My hand. 29 "My Father,
who has given them to Me, is greater than all; and
no one is able to snatch them out of the Father's
hand. 30 "I and the Father are one." (NAS) Lord
Jesus - we are guaranteed times of trial in this
life. Help us to learn the things You have for us
in these difficult times. Give us the faith and
the strength to share our weaknesses with others
so they can be comforted. Teach us to cherish the
patience we learn and to draw strength in the surety
of our salvation and Your care for us. Amen.
