Friday, May 29, 2015

Enduring The Pain With God

Date: Friday, May 29, 2015
Chapters: Job 10-13
Message Title: Enduring The Pain With God

Hello My Friend,

Sometimes the pain we are in, whether it is physical, mental, or spiritual, is so unbearable that we just want God to end it all, even if that means He takes us home to heaven. God knows how far to let us suffer before He gives us relief, regardless of what it is. So, aside from committing suicide, which God never wants us to do, our best and only option to endure the pain is to seek comfort in Him. “I will extol thee, O LORD; for thou hast lifted me up, and hast not made my foes to rejoice over me. O LORD my God, I cried unto thee, and thou hast healed me. O LORD, thou hast brought up my soul from the grave: thou hast kept me alive, that I should not go down to the pit. Sing unto the LORD, O ye saints of his, and give thanks at the remembrance of his holiness. For his anger endureth but a moment; in his favour is life: weeping may endure for a night, but joy cometh in the morning.” - Psalms 30:1-5.

As much pain as Job is in the last thing he wants to hear are his friends trying to make him confess to something he has not done. He feels that his life on earth is ending and does not want it to be with them giving him all these lectures. “My soul is weary of my life; I will leave my complaint upon myself; I will speak in the bitterness of my soul. I will say unto God, Do not condemn me; shew me wherefore thou contendest with me. Is it good unto thee that thou shouldest oppress, that thou shouldest despise the work of thine hands, and shine upon the counsel of the wicked? Are not my days few? cease then, and let me alone, that I may take comfort a little, Before I go whence I shall not return, even to the land of darkness and the shadow of death; A land of darkness, as darkness itself; and of the shadow of death, without any order, and where the light is as darkness.” - Job 10:1-3,20-22.

Job really had no idea what was going to happen to him or why he was suffering, but he knew that for whatever reason God chose to afflict him it was of no sin he committed. If these were his last days he wanted peace and comfort, not judgment. Sadly, family and friends can really bring us down sometimes, but we do not have to let them mock and criticize us. Hold your ground and never let anyone belittle you or make you think that you are at fault, we have no one to answer to, but God, and He knows what's going on. “Let your conversation be without covetousness; and be content with such things as ye have: for he hath said, I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee. So that we may boldly say, The Lord is my helper, and I will not fear what man shall do unto me.” - Hebrews 13:5,6.

If it wasn't bad enough that two of his friends were on his case, here comes a third, Zophar, there really isn't much said about him either, only that he is a Gentile. Now, he took it one step further, and outright called Job a liar. “Should not the multitude of words be answered? and should a man full of talk be justified? Should thy lies make men hold their peace? and when thou mockest, shall no man make thee ashamed? For thou hast said, My doctrine is pure, and I am clean in thine eyes. But oh that God would speak, and open his lips against thee; And that he would shew thee the secrets of wisdom, that they are double to that which is! Know therefore that God exacteth of thee less than thine iniquity deserveth. For then shalt thou lift up thy face without spot; yea, thou shalt be stedfast, and shalt not fear: Because thou shalt forget thy misery, and remember it as waters that pass away: And thine age shall be clearer than the noonday; thou shalt shine forth, thou shalt be as the morning.” - Job 11:2-6,15-17..

Zophar was basically saying that Job was actually getting a lesser punishment than he deserved. Don't you love it when they not only call you a liar, but try to be the judge themselves? The problem is they do not even know what's going on and deep down they were just waiting for something to happen to try and prove that we are not as faithful a Christian as we appear. Recently a well known Christian family got caught up in a scandal involving their son inappropriately touching some of his siblings. The media couldn't wait to report this stuff to expose them for the frauds that they were. We are human people, and while some sin is down right disgusting in our eyes, it's all disgusting to God, and remember, sin in secret and be exposed in public. God deals with all of us the same, and to be honest, none of us get the punishment we deserve, thanks to Jesus paying the price for our sin debt. “Know ye not that the unrighteous shall not inherit the kingdom of God? Be not deceived: neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor effeminate, nor abusers of themselves with mankind, Nor thieves, nor covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor extortioners, shall inherit the kingdom of God. And such were some of you: but ye are washed, but ye are sanctified, but ye are justified in the name of the Lord Jesus, and by the Spirit of our God.” - 1 Corinthians 6:9-11.

Okay, now three of his friends are calling him a liar, a hypocrite, and basically a cheat for not coming clean about hidden sin in his life. Job responds, tired of all these false accusations. “No doubt but ye are the people, and wisdom shall die with you. But I have understanding as well as you; I am not inferior to you: yea, who knoweth not such things as these? I am as one mocked of his neighbour, who calleth upon God, and he answereth him: the just upright man is laughed to scorn. Who knoweth not in all these that the hand of the LORD hath wrought this? In whose hand is the soul of every living thing, and the breath of all mankind. Doth not the ear try words? and the mouth taste his meat?” - Job 12:2-4,9-11.

Sadly, people love to see a faithful Christian suffer, there are so many people in the world that call themselves Christians, but the reality of it is, they do not live as they should, and they get convicted every time they see those who do. People love to expose others sins, even if there is none, in order to take the shame off of them for a while. Can I tell you, no sin goes unpunished, and those who believe that their salvation somehow justifies their sin, have a great shock ahead of them. God will expose their sin and it will not be pretty. “If any man teach otherwise, and consent not to wholesome words, even the words of our Lord Jesus Christ, and to the doctrine which is according to godliness; He is proud, knowing nothing, but doting about questions and strifes of words, whereof cometh envy, strife, railings, evil surmisings, Perverse disputings of men of corrupt minds, and destitute of the truth, supposing that gain is godliness: from such withdraw thyself. But godliness with contentment is great gain. For we brought nothing into this world, and it is certain we can carry nothing out.” - 1 Timothy 6:3-7.

Job continues his defense, reminding them that they are not all that righteous either, and their false accusations will lead to God judging them. “Lo, mine eye hath seen all this, mine ear hath heard and understood it. What ye know, the same do I know also: I am not inferior unto you. Surely I would speak to the Almighty, and I desire to reason with God. But ye are forgers of lies, ye are all physicians of no value. Is it good that he should search you out? or as one man mocketh another, do ye so mock him? He will surely reprove you, if ye do secretly accept persons. Shall not his excellency make you afraid? and his dread fall upon you?” - Job 13:1-4,9-11.

Mock one of God's children, you mock God, God will not be mocked, and He will let it be known to all that He is in control and always is. We should never think of ourselves as better or more righteous than anyone else, we all have quirks and to be honest, we sin every day. We cannot always understand why we are suffering, but we can come to an understanding with God on the matter. If we endure, God will bless us, He never allows us to suffer anything that we cannot handle, and ending our lives is not the answer, trusting God is, and He is the only way to peace and comfort through our suffering. “But watch thou in all things, endure afflictions, do the work of an evangelist, make full proof of thy ministry. For I am now ready to be offered, and the time of my departure is at hand. I have fought a good fight, I have finished my course, I have kept the faith: Henceforth there is laid up for me a crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous judge, shall give me at that day: and not to me only, but unto all them also that love his appearing.” - 2 Timothy 4:5-8.

Today's Prayer: God, It's not always easy to deal with the situations that bring us suffering, and critical people do not help the matter. I thank You for watching over me and protecting me, even when I was not in Your will, and I thank You for loving me and not giving up on me. While I have had times when I was not my best, Your hand never let go of me, and You kind of let me bobble along so far until I came to my senses and realized that You are my only peace and comfort. Lord, lead me and guide me, let me live a life that is pleasing to You and be the example so many need to a life with You. When others criticize and mock me, give me the strength to stand my ground and not be ashamed to profess my Jesus to them. I love You and ask these things in Jesus' name. Amen.

God Bless You, I am praying for you,
Christina

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