After all that Job has experienced, after his rant about how God is persecuting him, in the midst of despair he states: "But as for me, I know that my Redeemer lives, and he will stand upon the earth at last.  And after my body has decayed, yet in my body I will see God!  I will see Him for myself.  Yes I will see Him with my own eyes.  I am overwhelmed at the thought!" (Job 19:25-27)

I too am overwhelmed b the thought.

May grace abound,

I am struck once again by Job's friends example of how not to be a friend.  Instead of being there to encourage and support Job they attack and accuse.  And still Job clings to God.  "Even now my witness is in heaven.  My advocate is there on high.  My friends scorn me, but I pour out my tears to God." (Job 16:19-20)

We live in a time when loneliness has become an epidemic in this country. I hear in Job's words the cries of a man who may be surrounded by "friends" but feels alone in his grief and pain and suffering.  Let's be the kind of people who connect with those around us and make sure that we are examples of Christ's love.  

May grace abound,

Sometimes when people are suffering we just need to take Job's advice and be silent.  His friends are not unique in their response to his suffering.  I know people who have been told that their physical suffering had to be due to sin in their lives.  One friend was actually told that if he would just confess that sin he would walk again,  Let's not be those kind of friends.

I do hear the voices of those who cry out for understanding in Job's words.  We just do not always understand the why's of our situations.  I think back to the disciples on the night that Jesus was betrayed, and then as they watched Him suffer and die on the cross.  Imagine the many and confusing thoughts that must have gone through their minds.  And then comes the resurrection morning.  It was the plan all along, from before any of them were even born.  God has the very distinct advantage of being the one in charge and of knowing the beginning from the end.  Job knew that all of life is in God's hands.  "For the life of every living thing is in His hand, and the breath of every human being." (Job 12:10) He knew too that the answers to HIs questions could only be found in God.  "But true wisdom and power are found in God; counsel and understanding are His." (Job 12:13)  It can be quite hard in times of great suffering to surrender to God's will in the midst of our questioning.

May grace abound,