There once was a Prince of the desert of immense wealth and influence. He lived in the land of Uz. He was famous for his integrity, of piety and benevolence. He feared God and avoided evil. He was a good man, who suffered so suddenly that it stunned all that part of the known world.
Job had great relationships with his children and raised them to love God. Satan had a conversation with God about Job’s love for God. Satan argued that Job had never suffered in his life-that was why he was so good. So Satan quickly set out to make Job suffer. Job lost his servants and livestock. They were all killed. His sons and daughters died tragic deaths. Yet Job still believed in God. He was struck with what is believed to be Leprosy. The pain he experienced was so great. He wished that he had never been born and longed for death.
Job’s friends seemed to think that all suffering is sent upon us as a punishment for sins we have committed. Other friends thought suffering was to keep us from continuing in sin. A correction rather than punitive.
God’s view according to the author of Job, is that men with their finite minds shouldn’t try to understand all the mysteries of God’s creation. Job learned that out of such intense suffering he came to see God and was rewarded. God never left his side and was aware of all the suffering he endured
As I counsel clients, they express the suffering they endure. Some are struggling with unemployment, other’s chronic health problems, or dealing with extreme pain in their backs or of arthritis. Many suffer from allergies and asthma. I have clients who have lost a child, lost their partner, their house, relationship with their children or friends. They feel discouraged about the course of their lives. Some of my clients wonder why they were born. Some are exhausted from worry. Others have a loved one suffering cancer treatments. They experience real suffering on a daily weekly basis. Suffering can cause depression, anxiety and hopelessness, even suicidal thoughts. It is my job to help them through their situations and give them ideas and solutions that can bring them hope.
It reminds me of the suffering the disciples of Jesus went through during the years of persecution in the first Century. They were imprisoned, stoned, crucified, hung, beaten, scourged, threatened, making havoc of the church beyond measure. ( Galatians 1:13)
No matter how they were persecuted…they kept on talking about Jesus, singing, praising and following God. It seems that they, like Job were able to see God in the midst of their suffering. they still believed and followed Him.
The Apostle Paul said in Ephesians 6:12 “For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this age, against spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places. Therefore take up the whole amor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand. Stand therefore, having girded your waist with truth, having put on the breastplate of righteousness, and having shod your feet with the preparation of the gospel of peace; above all, taking the shield of faith with which you will be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked one. And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God; praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit…”
I have never met anyone who has had a carefree life, free of troubles. We all have to walk through our lives and deal with it’s challenges. We all have obstacles that we must try to overcome. My prayer is that you will learn to reach out to Jesus to help make your journey a bit easier. He can provide you with comfort and peace…even in the midst of extreme trauma. Paul tells us to “stand”, sometimes that’s all we can think to do. “Stand and face the music”. If you get knocked down…get back up. Never give up…for “giving up” is true failure. Our minds are too finite to understand all the reasons for our pain and suffering.
Maybe through the suffering you will see God’s face…and know that through the toughest times…He will never leave you.
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Always try to get back up when when knocked down but sometimes it feels like we just keep going down! THEN YOU HAVE TO LOOK AT THE BIG PICTURE!
If you feel like someone is always knocking you down…then you need to look at who you are hanging out with. We sometimes associate with people who get a kick out of knocking us down.
What is that all about? I will always get back up…no matter if someone is doing the knocking or I am just messing up a lot. I will never give up.
You are a very successful person. No one can take that away from you. But you have to believe in yourself. You know that you will always get up because you are the kind of person that Never gives up! Just look at the Big Picture and you can see yourself…never giving up…always trying and getting what you want. You are a successful person!