We are surrounded by a great cloud of witnesses! There are countless people who walk in the miraculous, but why not all? “What are these miserable, hideos years for? Hast Thou not heard Thy whole creation groaning sighs? Did not the woman’s tears of mourning wake Thee?” The answer is not obvious, so we must look deeply into our pain – there must be an explanation. When we examine our pain, many do NOT find a reason, but a determined few find a Person. For those who have searched their hearts and confessed all sins, including generational sins, why do they yet suffer? Inquiring minds want to know why they cannot get up and run with perseverance because their health prevents them. With eyes fixed on Jesus, the Pioneer and Perfecter of faith, we humbly fall to His feet and consider Him who endured such torture, pain, and rejection. Some days it feels like we are merely surviving ‘in Him’ rather than thriving as we abide ‘in Him’. The comfort comes in the believing that He will complete the work that He began in us, as we truly REST ‘in Him’. It is easy for our flesh to want to take over and hurry up the sanctification process. Job grew weary and spoke in anguish out of his tormented spirit. His flesh was clothed in maggots. Our Father’s promise was delivered unto Job, in his perfect timing. “The Lord will fulfill His purpose for me.” Psalm 138:8 God’s steadfast love endures forever and He does not forsake the work of His hands. “I leave you peace; My peace I give you. I do not give it to you as the world does. So don’t let your hearts be troubled or afraid.” John 14:27 Job complained bitterly from his soul and admitted “my life is but a breath” In view of eternity, the short time we are on earth, we will suffer, but thank God we will spend eternity in our glorified bodies. Lord Jesus, in our flesh, we worry and fret about many things. Forgive us for exchanging Your peace as we question Your purpose in our suffering. Deliver us Lord from any unbelief and fill us with Thy peace. His ways are not our ways.  “I consider that our present sufferings are not worth comparing with the glory that will be revealed in us.” ” Romans 8:18 Suffering is NOT for nothing!

God allows suffering

Take comfort in knowing that Jesus intercedes in prayer on our behalf. The truth is some have been appointed to suffer, some were born without arms or legs. Some suffer well and their courageous witness encourages the world that watches. Scripture says in Hebrews 12:5 and following. “My child, do not make light of the Lord’s discipline, and do not lose heart when He rebukes you, because the Lord disciplines the one He loves, and He chastens everyone He accepts as His child.” Our Father treats us as His beloved children. “For what children are not disciplined by their father?” We have all heard undisciplined children screaming for what they want. Have we not thought at times “Why doesn’t that parent spank that brat?” Do we not squirm and throw a tantrum when life does not go according to our will? How much more should we submit to God our Father and agree with His way and purpose in our pain. Have you met grown kids who rebel against any criticism or discipline — from a boss, mate, or friend? Those who rebel become untrainable, unteachable and question God. Truth is that our Father disciplines us for our good, in order that we may share in His holiness. Do we readily crucify the desires of our flesh? Defiantly, we do what we want, and eat whatever we want. Do we easily deny our will to buy whatever we want? In the end, a life without discipline, becomes a life of tragedy and pain. God’s perfect plan is to prosper our souls, here and for certain in the everafter. Hebrews 10:11 “He has clothed me with garments of salvation and wrapped me in a robe of righteousness.” A disciplined life produces a harvest of righteousness and peace for those who have been trained and purified in the hardships of life. God is love and He is not provoked, He keeps no record of wrongs, He bears all things, even our impatience. Our Father endures our questions, and our doubts with Grace. His love never fails, He wraps His purpose for our pain in a mystery that we may never comprehend. 1 Timothy 3:16 “Beyond all question, the MYSTERY from which true godliness springs is great: He appeared in the flesh, was vindicated by the Spirit, was seen by angels, was preached among the nations, was believed on in the world, was taken up in glory.” Colossians 1:27 “To them God has chosen to make known among the Gentiles the glorious riches of this mystery, which is Christ in you, the hope of glory.” The painful truth is our Father told us that we WILL SUFFER, and in our suffering we bring Him glory. Speak words to encourage your friends who are suffering. We do not have all the answers. God has not abandoned those who love Him, and His purpose will be revealed, in His perfect timing.

As Job suffered his friend Eliphaz gave him a speech Job 5:12 “Anger kills a fool and jealousy slays the gullible. I would appeal to God – for He does great things. He traps the wise so the plans of the deceptive are brought to an end.” Job replies with “Wisdom belongs to God as no person can be more righteous than God, nor can a man be more pure than his Maker. Fools die without wisdom. Even after my skin is destroyed, yet I will see God in my flesh.” Job 4:17 + 19:26 Job was a laughingstock to his friends by calling on God. “everything you know, I also know; I am not inferior to you. Yet I prefer to speak to the Almighty and argue my case before God. But you coat the truth with lies; you are all worthless doctors. If only you would shut up and let that be your wisdom.” Job 13:3 Job replies to his friend Eliphaz in chapter 16 “You are all miserable comforters. Is there no end to your empty words? If you were in my place, I would encourage you with my mouth, and the consolation from my lips would bring relief.” Job counters Bildad chapter 9 “How can a person be justified before God? Who can oppose God and come out unharmed? Who can ask Him ‘What are You doing?’ I could only beg my Judge for mercy. If I said ‘I will forget my complaint, change my expression, and smile, I would still live in terror of all my pains.” Job exalts God chapter 13 “Even if He kills me, I will hope in Him. I will still defend my ways before Him. Yes, this will result in my deliverance, for no godless person can appear before Him.” We were called to overcome by the word of our testimony. We define ourselves by our hardships. Often times man’s identity is based on what they have accomplished or overcome. Let us praise God for what He accomplished on our behalf. For it was by His Grace that we were saved, nothing from ourselves.

“Don’t be afraid only BELIEVE, and be made whole.” Luke 8:50 ❤️ The Greek word SOZO is used over 100 times in the New Testament. SOZO translates to mean a spiritual and/or a physical healing. Our salvation includes the forgiveness of sins + deliverance from demons + physical healing. Sozo means to be “made whole” or “be whole”. Acts 14:9 The cripple had FAITH to be healed. James 5:15 “The prayer offered in FAITH will make the sick person well; the Lord will raise them up.” In Luke 8:29 Jesus commanded the unclean spirit to “Come out”. Indwelt with the Holy Spirit we have the authority “in Jesus name” to command healing. READ Acts 14:9 + Isaiah 53:5. ❤️ “It is finished ” ❤️ We STAND FIRM and WIN the spiritual battle in Jesus name now…. or later. “Jesus healed all who came to Him” When I stand before Him face to face, I am confident that I will be totally healed of all infirmity, and I rely on that promised Truth. Until then, in FAITH I pray and trust God as I wait on the Lord.

God is faithful, God is grace, God is mercy – and we boldly come to the throne of Grace. Galatians 3:5-9 “Does God give you His Spirit and work miracles among you by the works of the law, or by your BELIEVING what you heard?” For now we strive to imitate Christ. We pray, we trust, we believe and suffer well while we wait. Psalm 77 builds confidence in a time of crisis. “I will remember the Lord’s works” Yes I will list His ancient wonders, and remember the JOY of my salvation. His power redeemed me from the pit. My God rained down manna as His provision poured out from heaven on an ungrateful people. He parted the Red Sea and His footsteps were unseen. Water gushed out of a rock in the desert, Lazarus was raised from the dead, the same God who chose me made the blind see, and the lame walk. I will reflect on all God has done and meditate on His Word and promises. Glory to God, His ways are not mine, they are perfect.

In Job 42 while in the midst of great suffering, Job is conscious of God’s holy Presence.  He is fully persuaded “surely I spoke of things I did not understand, things too wonderful for me to know. You said ‘Listen now and I will speak; I will question you, and you shall answer Me.’ My ears had heard of You, but now my eyes have seen You.” The Lord blessed the latter part of Job’s life more than the first. Job lived 140 years; he saw his children and their children to the fourth generation.  We all know good people who have suffered greatly, yet they endured with thanks to God for the cross and courage. We are reminded that God allowed His Son to suffer, “they twisted together a crown of thorns and set it on Him.” Mark 15:17