TRUSTING OUR LORD WHEN IN THE DARKNESS

TRUSTING OUR LORD WHEN IN THE DARKNESS

My face is red with weeping, and on my eyelids is deep darkness. —Job 16:16

            If you have been in mourning before or now, then you can identify with Job to some degree.  Oh, how this man was in deep pain— in massive swelling of sorrow.  His ten children all died at the same time in a storm.  He lost all his animals—- his business, his living.  Some of his servants were killed.  He did not have the support of his wife who said he should “curse God and die.”  His intimate friends accused him of wrong-doing.  His own siblings would not come near, nor other relatives.  His servant would not even answer him.  Children scorned him.  Oh, what a horrible situation Job was in…

“He has alienated my family from me; my acquaintances are completely estranged from me.  My relatives have gone away; my closest friends have forgotten me.  My guests and my female servants count me a foreigner; they look on me as on a stranger. I summon my servant, but he does not answer, though I beg him with my own mouth.  My breath is offensive to my wife; I am loathsome to my own family.  Even the little boys scorn me; when I appear, they ridicule me.  All my intimate friends detest me; those I love have turned against me.  I am nothing but skin and bones; I have escaped only by the skin of my teeth.” — Job 19:13-20

            Job’s tears flowed like a river, changing his facial appearance.  Dark circles encircling his eyes gave evidence of sleeplessness.  His pain was enormous.  He could not eat.  His weight had dropped immensely.  The worst part of all his suffering is that he did not have one person around him to bring him comfort.  Those who came to him just added to his suffering.

            Job would, as we know his story written down, come out of this dark time in his life with the Lord’s help.  That is where our hope lies in darkness or the light— it is in the Lord and his help.  Sometimes we may be in the deep darkness of mourning, but He will bring us through.  Sometimes all those around us may not understand us or what we are going through, but our Lord is there and knows it all.  Sometimes we may have more “why” questions than answers, but that is when faith is surely seen— when we trust Him in the darkness and blindness of life.  With whatever you are going through… will you trust Him with your unanswered questions?  May it be so!

Dear Father I am so grateful to know You are always there— in the good times and hard times.  May I trust You at all times by the power of Your Holy Spirit and in the authority of Your Son Jesus.  Yes, may this be so. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U3YGczmlbV8