...even NOW...

I thought I would share a little of what I read in today's plan in reading the chronological Bible in a year.  (Plus, if I blog about it, it helps me be accountable to someone other my furry friends.) 

I never really thought I cared much for the book of Job.  Who likes all the doom and gloom?  But when you consider the character of Job, it's really an eye-opening book in the Bible.  If you're not familiar with him, Job had everything back in the day that he lived.  He walked with the Lord.  He had a wife and children.  He had wealth, in that he had a home and land with animals that lived on it. 

He was faithful to God. 

But then Satan decided to test Job.  And God let him, because He knew that Job would remain faithful to Him. 

So one right after another, tragedy strikes this man Job.  He is tormented because he lost all that he held dear...his children, his animals, his home, his land.  All that remained was Job and his wife.  (And in my Bible at the beginning of Job, it says about his wife that she not much help to him.) 

Chapter after chapter, Job suffers.  Friends come to comfort him, but rather than do that they just make his situation seem  worse by trying to make light of it. 

One part that got me this morning was this:

Job 16:19-21 "Even now my witness is in heaven; my advocate is on high.  My intercessor is my friend as my eyes pour out tears to God; on behalf of a man he pleads with God as a man pleads for his friend."

Even now...in the midst of Job's torment, he kept his eyes on the Lord.  Sure, he questioned God.  He even pleaded with God to just let him die and he regretted the day he'd been born.  But somewhere along the way, he remembered that "even now" God was with him.  He never left him. 

I know people who are struggling daily.  I am in touch with some of them on Facebook.  I know people who question God regularly on the path their life has taken.  I know who people who don't know God at all...and don't really care to because of something that might have happened to them or someone they know. 

I wish they knew Him like I do.  I would tell them that sometimes God does let things happen to those we love.  I wish I could tell you a reason as to why He would allow tragedy to strike them...but I don't have an answer. 

However, I do know that even in the midst of trial, God is still God.  He never leaves us.  He never forsakes us (Deuteronomy 31:6).  We have to trust Him and His infinite plan (Proverbs 3:5). 

"Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding."

Trust Him.  It's never easy to let go and have that blind faith.  But if we live like that, He will reveal little glimpses of Himself. 

I call them God-things. 

God knows that in life we're going to mourn those we lose, and that is perfectly normal and healthy.  He doesn't want us to stay that way forever, though.  He wants us to be comforted that if our loved ones knew Him, that they are now with Him...and that someday we will be reunited.  

Isn't there a glimmer of hope in that? 

I get really emotional when I think of how amazing Heaven will be.  I cannot imagine the party that will take place when we all see each other again.  Just think of all the people in your life that you've said 'goodbye' to...people that may still be alive, but ones you might never see again.  Can you even imagine?

I almost can't wrap my mind around it. 

I hope that this reaches someone today who needs it...my prayer is that God uses what I write to minister to you, if that is you.    His word will not return to Him empty (Isaiah 55:11). 

Who in the world knew all the treasures I would find in Job?  In what I thought was one of the more 'blah' books in the Bible?  Not me, that's for sure.  I'm so thankful that this spoke to me today.  It's an awesome reminder of staying focused...of keeping our eyes on what is to come. 

Perfection.  Bodies made whole.  Streets of gold.  An image too wonderful to imagine. 

Take comfort in this today...in God's plan.  He didn't come to harm us, but to prosper us.  To give us a hope and a future (Jeremiah 29:11).  Rest in Him.

Love to all.