I am currently reading a book entitled, Love Like You Have Never Been Hurt by Jentezen Franklin. The book was sent to me by a dear friend who knows that I have been struggling, and I am so glad she did. I highly recommend it to anyone who has been hurt, disappointed or discouraged. I am currently at a portion of the book that references Job and the book in the Bible named for him. Something caught my attention regarding this and I thought I'd write about it here.
The book of Job is the story of a wealthy man who literally has everything taken from him, including his health. Although the extreme suffering of Job can seem foreign to those who have not literally lost everything, I still over the years have drawn inspiration from this book a few ways - the first in the seemingly good advice of his friends, which turns out to not be good in God's eyes - (read Job 42:7-9 - in my opinion allowing freedom from persistent persuasion that seems well meaning but not ringing true within), another is the beautiful portion in Chapter 28 about where the source of wisdom is, and then lastly is the section of scripture in the Chapter 42, the last chapter - verses 6 - "I had heard of you by the hearing of the ear, but now my eye sees you; therefore I despise myself, and repent in dust and ashes." I have always loved this scripture as it spoke to me of the greatness of God in comparison to man and that moving from head knowledge of God to experience with God enabling a soul to see Him is when we actually know something.
But in Franklin's book on Page 193, his reference to Chapters 19 and 23 brought something to mind that I had not seen before that I would like to share here.
Job said in regards to God, in Chapter 23 - "I travel East looking for him - I find no one; then West, but not a trace; I go North, but he's hidden his tracks; then South, but not even a glimpse" (Message 8-9). I know I have felt that way. WHERE IS GOD? I am in my 60's and after you have asked yourself that quite a few times over your lifetime, it can wear you down. When I was a younger person I would see grouchy older people and tell myself I would never be like that. Now, with some age to me, I know that experience of being disillusioned by life can make you that way when you give up. God forbid I ever give up!
So, to the heart of this post - Job exclaims in Chapter 19, verse 25 - "But as for me, I know my Redeemer lives". What determination! What faith! Although Job can not find God, Job is saying that no matter the circumstances, he knows that His REDEEMER lives. When all Job saw or was experiencing was loss and pain, he still knew that his savior lived. Job was not in denial of his circumstances. He acknowledged his suffering. But in his suffering he stayed true to God in his heart.
I don't know how long Job stayed in that state of loss and pain, but I do know that God restored to Job more than he had before and blessed the latter days more than his beginning. So I hope this encourages anyone who, in their latter days are feeling discouraged. Hold on to faith and as for you, know that your redeemer lives!
Diane Britton Dunham - artist
The book of Job is the story of a wealthy man who literally has everything taken from him, including his health. Although the extreme suffering of Job can seem foreign to those who have not literally lost everything, I still over the years have drawn inspiration from this book a few ways - the first in the seemingly good advice of his friends, which turns out to not be good in God's eyes - (read Job 42:7-9 - in my opinion allowing freedom from persistent persuasion that seems well meaning but not ringing true within), another is the beautiful portion in Chapter 28 about where the source of wisdom is, and then lastly is the section of scripture in the Chapter 42, the last chapter - verses 6 - "I had heard of you by the hearing of the ear, but now my eye sees you; therefore I despise myself, and repent in dust and ashes." I have always loved this scripture as it spoke to me of the greatness of God in comparison to man and that moving from head knowledge of God to experience with God enabling a soul to see Him is when we actually know something.
But in Franklin's book on Page 193, his reference to Chapters 19 and 23 brought something to mind that I had not seen before that I would like to share here.
Job said in regards to God, in Chapter 23 - "I travel East looking for him - I find no one; then West, but not a trace; I go North, but he's hidden his tracks; then South, but not even a glimpse" (Message 8-9). I know I have felt that way. WHERE IS GOD? I am in my 60's and after you have asked yourself that quite a few times over your lifetime, it can wear you down. When I was a younger person I would see grouchy older people and tell myself I would never be like that. Now, with some age to me, I know that experience of being disillusioned by life can make you that way when you give up. God forbid I ever give up!
So, to the heart of this post - Job exclaims in Chapter 19, verse 25 - "But as for me, I know my Redeemer lives". What determination! What faith! Although Job can not find God, Job is saying that no matter the circumstances, he knows that His REDEEMER lives. When all Job saw or was experiencing was loss and pain, he still knew that his savior lived. Job was not in denial of his circumstances. He acknowledged his suffering. But in his suffering he stayed true to God in his heart.
I don't know how long Job stayed in that state of loss and pain, but I do know that God restored to Job more than he had before and blessed the latter days more than his beginning. So I hope this encourages anyone who, in their latter days are feeling discouraged. Hold on to faith and as for you, know that your redeemer lives!
Diane Britton Dunham - artist
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