Job 38:4–18—Job had questioned God, as to why He would let such great calamities befall him. Job had experienced the most devastating loss of family and fortune, had been struck down with a most painful disease, and was accused by his friends that his misfortune resulted from his own sinfulness – which he felt was a gross misrepresentation of his character. Job responds as most of us would – he questions God. “Why?” “Why had such things happened?
The Lord responds with a series
of questions. Where were you when I laid
the foundation of the earth? was one of several unanswerable questions, which the Lord fired
at Job in quick succession. Tell Me,
if you have understanding!!
In response, the Lord answers Job
by recounting His creation of all things, His ongoing involvement and dominion
over that creation. God is not subject to nature; nature is subject to God. We
as weak humans, created beings that we are, have no right to question our
benevolent Creator, but simply to trust that what He does, he does for our
benefit.
The cross of Christ is a divine
participation in every aspect of our humanity, including our suffering. (See
Hebrews 2:16-17) We may not see answers for suffering, “but we do see Jesus ... now crowned with glory and honor because of the
suffering of death, so that by the grace of God he might taste death for
everyone” (Hebrews 2:9). When experiencing suffering anguish distress and
affliction we need not ask why but instead look to Christ who has suffered for
us and sustains us in the midst of our own suffering.
We see Jesus and, seeing him, it
is enough.
Heavenly Father, thank You for Your loving-kindness and heart of sweet
compassion, and thank You that in my times of deep distress and suffering, You
have gently brought other people alongside me, to walk with me through the
different seasons of my life, to comfort and encourage, to help and to advise.
Thank You for all those whom You have used to draw near to me, to be Your hands
to help, Your arms to support and Your heart to love. Thank You that You never
forsake us nor leave us comfortless, but so often send showers of refreshment
through Your many faithful witness and other avenues of support.
https://prayer.knowing-jesus.com/Prayers-for-the-Suffering
Image: Lord have mercy, copyright Ed Riojas, Higher Things
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