“Where is God?” we often ask.

The book of Job asks the same question.
Job did not expect to find God close at hand when his troubles multiplied.

For him prosperity signified God’s presence!
Ultimately Job had to admit that
-In health and prosperity he did not know God at all!

It was through suffering that
– Job experienced God personally!

Like Job
– We prefer a God who follows our rules of fairness.

From a human point of view-
– it seems grossly unjust that it is not ours to know ‘why?’

But God answers us!
‘For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways…As the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts.’ Isaiah 55:8-9.

Through Job’s story comes-
– an opening in the heavens,
– a window for those of us who struggle with suffering!

His suffering had nothing to do with his own righteousness before God.
Neither was his suffering an excuse for him to forsake God’s ways.

God answered Job out of the whirlwind.
The Lover of Job’s soul spoke words through Job’s suffering that
– Job could not previously understand,
– things too wonderful,
– things that he did not know!

God was precisely where Job least expected to find Him!
And where we will find Him, too!!

(PR)

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A little girl needed an operation and was terrified of the thought.  
Her parents promised to give her something she had wanted for a long time as encouragement-
– her very own kitten.  
The operation was a success. 
But as the anesthesia wore off-
– the little girl mumbled, “This sure is a lousy way to get a cat!” 
Believers who go through hardships while serving the Lord-
– will never feel the way that little girl did when they look back on the trials they overcame.  
2 Timothy 3:12 says, “Everyone who wants to live a godly life in Christ Jesus will be persecuted.”  
It’s true!
When you live a lifestyle of holiness-
– you will be mocked and perhaps even cursed. 
However, Jesus said to His disciples:
“If anyone would come after me, he must deny himself and take up his cross and follow me” (Matthew 16:24).  
As a result of our faithfulness to follow Christ at all costs-
– Christ assured us that when He returns to earth, “he will reward each person according to what he has done” (Matthew 16:27). 
The apostle James said to “consider it pure joy…whenever you face trials of many kinds” (James 1:2).
Because “our present sufferings are not worth comparing with the glory that will be revealed in us” (Romans 8:18).
You should rejoice in the fact that we “participate in the sufferings of Christ, so that you may be overjoyed when his glory is revealed” (1 Peter 4:13). 
When you endure hardships and trials in this life-
– count it a privilege and blessing to be identified with the Saviour.  
Suffering for Him will bring a sure and eternal reward free of any regrets.
And the Lord will give you joy when you suffer through hardships in the Christian life.
(PR)

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