Tag Archives: suffering

God Will Never Leave Or Forsake Us

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Do you have any fair weather friends? You know…the kind who are there when things are going smoothly, but who disappear at the first sign of trouble? I’d guess each of us have had these people in our lives, at one time or the other. Maybe we’ve been the ones who high-tail it when the going gets messy in our friend’s lives.

I’ve had my share of life’s problems, and I’m sure you have, as well. Fortunately, there is one we can depend on to always be there. To stay with us when the going gets tough. It’s Jesus. He’s promised to never leave or forsake us, and that’s something we can hang onto when life threatens to undo us.

In the midst of our pain and suffering, we might feel abandoned, or forgotten, but that’s not the way it really is. God still cares. He’s still sovereign. He’s still involved with working things out. He’s constant. Not wishy-washy like we are. His goodness doesn’t depend our our goodness. Thankfully.

I’ve mentioned before, even though we may not see his hand at work, God doesn’t go MIA on us. He’s right there with us. In good and in bad. He won’t forsake or abandon us. Ever.

Going through some tough stuff? Remember, like a loving father, holding you close, God’s going through it with you. Nothing reaches us that God hasn’t planned or permitted. Remember the things Jesus has already brought you through. He didn’t bring you this far to drop you now.

Through Christ, we are more than conquerors and overcomers.

No one will be able to oppose you as long as you live, for I will be with you just as I was with Moses; I will not abandon you or fail to help you. Joshua 1:5

I wish you well.

Sandy

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Job Knew Something We Sometimes Forget

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I received word July 10, 2013, an article I wrote for Today’s Christian Woman, “Letting Go” went live on TodaysChristianWoman.com’s ParentConnect site.

The post I wrote July 9 talked about opportunities God gives us to trust him. “Letting Go” tells of an opportunity God gave me to trust him, over 30 years ago. Today’s Christian Woman has asked me to spread the word about the article, so that’s what I’m doing. 😉

If someone mentions the name, Job, from the Old Testament, what’s the first thing we usually think of?

Patience.

But I would like to submit to you, that the Book of Job is sooo much more than merely a beautifully written, poetic story about exhibiting patience, and enduring troubles.

Have you spent much time considering Job’s friends? I use the term, friends, loosely here. I know I’ve had people like them in my life before. Still do.

Friends who tell us our troubles are all our fault. Even when we know for a fact, we haven’t done a thing to deserve what is happening. Or who tell us how stupid we were/are.

Friends who are ready to lecture and give advice, but who haven’t a clue what they are talking about. They aren’t the ones who went through the experience.

When, all the time, what we really need is a true friend. A friend who will sit with us in the ash heap, among the pottery shards of our life. Fortunately, I do have a couple of those. Thank you, Jesus.

And then there is Job’s Curse God and die, wife. Oh. There’s someone I’d like in my life. Not.

Near the very end of the Book of Job, (39-41) God tells Job to brace himself like a man. Then God starts questioning Job.

Where were you when I made the earth’s foundation? Who shut the doors to keep the sea

in when it broke through and was born? Where were you when I said to the sea, ‘you may come this far, but no farther’? Have you ever ordered the morning to begin, or shown the dawn where its place was? Tell me if you know all these things.

Job, wisely, admitted he had no answers to the Almighty’s questions.

But, before Job’s questioning by God, Job did know something we sometimes forget, even being this side of Calvary.

I know that my Redeemer lives, and in the end he will stand upon the earth. Even after my skin has been destroyed in my flesh I will see God. I will see him myself; I will see him with my very own eyes. How my heart wants that to happen!

Job 19:25-27 

The story of Job is not just a story of patience and suffering. It is a story of hope. Hope in a risen Savior. Hope in a Redeemer. Hope in Jesus Christ as LORD. It is a story that should give us hope, even in the midst of our worst trials and troubles.

This is the story of a man who lived in the days of the old and ancient before Jesus walked this earth. A man who knew the truth. A man who knew his, and our, yours, and my, Redeemer lives!

Going through some tough stuff in your life? Hold onto the hope we have in Jesus as our LORD, Savior and Redeemer.

I wish you well.

Sandy

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