Dreamer
Member
- Joined
- Nov 18, 2005
- Messages
- 2,134
Key text of the book of Job:
1:21 "Naked I came from my mother's womb, and naked I will leave this life. The Lord gives, and the Lord takes away. Praise the name of the Lord."
Key Term: Suffering
One-Sentence Summary: After the upright Job suddenly lost family, health, and possessions, he and his friends dialogued at length about the reasons for his sufferings, but God alone had the final word and ultimately restored what Job had lost.
Job 16:1-6
Then Job answered: (to his "friends") (Job 23:1-14)
I have heard many things like these. You are all miserable comforters. Is there no end to your empty words? What provokes you that you continue testifying?
If you were in my place I could also talk like you. I could string words together against youand shake my head at you, but I wouldn't. I would encourage you with my mouth, and the consolation from my lips would bring relief.
Even if I speak, my suffering is not relieved, and if I hold back, what have I lost?
Chapter 23:1-17: Then Job answered: Today also my complaint is bitter. His hand is heavy despite my groaning. If only I knew how to find Him, so that I could go to His throne.
I would plead my case before Him and fill my mouth with arguments. I would learn how He would answer me; and understand what He would say to me.
Would He prosecute me forcefully? No, He will certainly pay attention to me.
If I go east, He is not there, and if I go west, I cannot perceive Him.
When He is at work to the north, I cannot see Him; when He turns south, I cannot find Him.
Yet He knows the way I have taken, when H has tested me, I will ermerge as pure gold.
My feet have followed in His tracks; I have kept to His way and not turned aside. I have not departed from the commands of His lips; I have treasured the words of His mouth more than my daily food.
But He is unchangeable; who can oppose Him?
He will certainly accomplish what He has decreed for me, and He has many more things like these in mind."
------------
Today I feel like Job. No, I haven't had 10 children and lost them. No, I didn't have any cattle or camels.
Yet I lost my son...when I had been raising him in the Lord.
Friends here in my county still judge me today! They say if I had been walking with God, that the Lord wouldn't have allowed it.
I beg to differ.
And then I thought...what if Job had just given up? What if he had remained angry with the Lord and never repented?
Would he be like me? Frustrated? Jealous of those who are blessed?
Yes, probably.
Lord, I pray that I won't be angry at You anymore for the things you have allowed in my life, and the people and things you have allowed to be taken away.
Father, I repent of being angry with you. I want You to shelter me in your arms and hold me like a small child. And if it is your will, I would like you to explain to me someday why I did not get to raise my oldest boy and see him graduate from high school. I know You had good reasons, Lord. Just show me how to walk in Your footsteps that You have planned for me and help me not to be jealous of others who just seem to have blessings handed to them on a silver platter. Forgive me for the jealousy I've had even toward those at the shelter that I've helped.
I go to church and plea for money to help the homeless. Then when people give money I become jealous because no one gave me money when I was homeless? And I was not even a drug addict, so I deserved it? Please, lol.
Lol, Lord, I am such a baby. Help me please, Father, to grow up, in Jesus name, Amen.
WANT TO ADD: The other day at the "other" forum. Yes, I'm guilty of forum-hopping between here and one other christian forum....a woman who called herself a humanist pm'd me. She said she was envious of my joy.
She said that she wished she'd had a nice life like mine so that she could have joy like I do. She said she had lost her little boy unfairly to her ex, who was abusive to her and the boy.
I pm'd her back, explaining that I'd lost my son in the same way, but that Jesus is my Saviour and He gives me joy.
I am praying for the opportunity to lead this "humanist" lady to Christ some day. For right now, we just pm each other back and forth, but I believe God brought her to that forum so that she could learn of His love and forgiveness.
Everything you go through, God can use for His glory. Everything. Anything. You name it, He can use it.
Lay it all down at His feet, sisters and brothers.
1:21 "Naked I came from my mother's womb, and naked I will leave this life. The Lord gives, and the Lord takes away. Praise the name of the Lord."
Key Term: Suffering
One-Sentence Summary: After the upright Job suddenly lost family, health, and possessions, he and his friends dialogued at length about the reasons for his sufferings, but God alone had the final word and ultimately restored what Job had lost.
Job 16:1-6
Then Job answered: (to his "friends") (Job 23:1-14)
I have heard many things like these. You are all miserable comforters. Is there no end to your empty words? What provokes you that you continue testifying?
If you were in my place I could also talk like you. I could string words together against youand shake my head at you, but I wouldn't. I would encourage you with my mouth, and the consolation from my lips would bring relief.
Even if I speak, my suffering is not relieved, and if I hold back, what have I lost?
Chapter 23:1-17: Then Job answered: Today also my complaint is bitter. His hand is heavy despite my groaning. If only I knew how to find Him, so that I could go to His throne.
I would plead my case before Him and fill my mouth with arguments. I would learn how He would answer me; and understand what He would say to me.
Would He prosecute me forcefully? No, He will certainly pay attention to me.
If I go east, He is not there, and if I go west, I cannot perceive Him.
When He is at work to the north, I cannot see Him; when He turns south, I cannot find Him.
Yet He knows the way I have taken, when H has tested me, I will ermerge as pure gold.
My feet have followed in His tracks; I have kept to His way and not turned aside. I have not departed from the commands of His lips; I have treasured the words of His mouth more than my daily food.
But He is unchangeable; who can oppose Him?
He will certainly accomplish what He has decreed for me, and He has many more things like these in mind."
------------
Today I feel like Job. No, I haven't had 10 children and lost them. No, I didn't have any cattle or camels.
Yet I lost my son...when I had been raising him in the Lord.
Friends here in my county still judge me today! They say if I had been walking with God, that the Lord wouldn't have allowed it.
I beg to differ.
And then I thought...what if Job had just given up? What if he had remained angry with the Lord and never repented?
Would he be like me? Frustrated? Jealous of those who are blessed?
Yes, probably.
Lord, I pray that I won't be angry at You anymore for the things you have allowed in my life, and the people and things you have allowed to be taken away.
Father, I repent of being angry with you. I want You to shelter me in your arms and hold me like a small child. And if it is your will, I would like you to explain to me someday why I did not get to raise my oldest boy and see him graduate from high school. I know You had good reasons, Lord. Just show me how to walk in Your footsteps that You have planned for me and help me not to be jealous of others who just seem to have blessings handed to them on a silver platter. Forgive me for the jealousy I've had even toward those at the shelter that I've helped.
I go to church and plea for money to help the homeless. Then when people give money I become jealous because no one gave me money when I was homeless? And I was not even a drug addict, so I deserved it? Please, lol.
Lol, Lord, I am such a baby. Help me please, Father, to grow up, in Jesus name, Amen.
WANT TO ADD: The other day at the "other" forum. Yes, I'm guilty of forum-hopping between here and one other christian forum....a woman who called herself a humanist pm'd me. She said she was envious of my joy.
She said that she wished she'd had a nice life like mine so that she could have joy like I do. She said she had lost her little boy unfairly to her ex, who was abusive to her and the boy.
I pm'd her back, explaining that I'd lost my son in the same way, but that Jesus is my Saviour and He gives me joy.
I am praying for the opportunity to lead this "humanist" lady to Christ some day. For right now, we just pm each other back and forth, but I believe God brought her to that forum so that she could learn of His love and forgiveness.
Everything you go through, God can use for His glory. Everything. Anything. You name it, He can use it.
Lay it all down at His feet, sisters and brothers.
Last edited:
