PLEASE READ THIS FIRST: Job 29-31
What do you sense the Lord saying to you in this passage?
“I cry out to you, God, but you do not answer.” (Job 30:20)
This is one of the hardest parts of life in this sin-messed world.
When we turned from God, we lost our connection to God.
We cannot see God, or walk with God in the garden (Genesis 3:8)
And when our misery and suffering become unbearable, we cry out to God.
Job expresses the feeling of utter abandonment: by people and by God.
Jesus experienced this as well, on the cross.
But through his resurrection, he has restored us to God.
We are waiting for the day when he will finally straighten all things out.
Until then, like Jesus, we join with those who suffer and feel abandoned.
If for a time God seems absent, we can be present on his behalf.
We can show people they are not alone… and that God does care!
Job’s community turned away from him when his life crashed.
And his friends put the blame on him, and made him feel worse.
May we bring hope, not more grief, to those who suffer or feel abandoned.
PRAYER
Lord, open my eyes to see the despair and hear the cry of those who suffer, or feel abandoned. May I be Jesus to them!
That is a long list of many things I’ve definitely done.
Truly Job was a man of God – close to God. He suffered when God allowed Satan to test him – and God did not interfere – but what a tough test it was – he loses his children and his animals – also his prestige and is in a lot of physical pain. Yet, when I read what he did and where his heart was and even his covenant to live righteously (covenant not to look at a young woman lustfully etc.) – we know he is right with God. He also regularly made sacrifices for sin – especially for his children when they partied. Reading his testimony makes it clear. He did not deserve this plight – and so do many Christians who suffer persecution today under anti-Christian regimes – they don’t deserve it and I don’t deserve the peace and comfort I enjoy either. Like Job, I must live by God’s grace alone – he is the judge – and through Jesus he is my redeemer. So I need to do what Job listed here – how many people he responded to – to be a blessing. Lord help me to be a blessing to others!
Alone.
The friends were not an encouragement.
The presence of the Lord was not felt.
But Ge is always with His own. Emmanuel. That was His promise.
And I need to be an instrument of His peace showing those around me that I am His and He is mine and His banner over me is love. I must demonstrate that love to all.
Others need to see Christ living in me.
All of my life, I will praise the living God,
My heart full of joy,
I will bless his holy name.
Bless the Lord, O my soul!
And never forget his gifts.
Bless the Lord, O my soul!
He pardons all our sins.
Bless the Lord, O my soul!
He saves us from all harm.
Bless the Lord, O my soul!
He fills our life with good.
Bless the Lord, O my soul!
He keeps us ever young.
Bless the Lord, O my soul!
His mercy never ends.
Bless the Lord, O my soul!
His kindness never ends.
Bless the Lord, O my soul!
His promises he keeps.
Bless the Lord, O my soul!
He died to bring us life.
Bless the Lord, O my soul!
He is the Bread of Life.
Bless the Lord, O my soul!
In him we find all love.