Dealing With Difficulty

Have you ever wondered how life can put such a hurtin'’ on you – when you least expect it? Job was a man who had the world on a string, and people throughout the land in which he lived, knew Job; if not personally, certainly by reputation. He was the richest man in all the east, and when people wanted words of wisdom, Job was one to whom they could turn.

One day God and Lucifer had an encounter in which Hell’s bad boy told God that "he had been walking to and fro across the earth seeking those he might devour."” And when God asked, "Have you considered my servant Job?"” Satan accused God of "putting a hedge around Job",” thus disallowing the Prince of Darkness access to him. "Let me at him, and I will have him cursing You to Your face!” Every man has his price, and Job doesn’t serve You for nothing!"”

That was quite a challenge, but God is always up to the challenge, so he removed the hedge, opened the gate, and let Satan take his best shots. He used every militaristic strategy in his arsenal, but to no avail. Even Job’s wife ran low on patience, asking her beaten and scarred husband, "Do you maintain your integrity? Why don’t you just curse God – and DIE?"”
Job’s friends came calling, and they had a book of reasons committed to memory, as to why Job was suffering. With friends like Eliphaz, Bildad, and Zophar, a kind-hearted enemy might be a welcome sight! They, no doubt, meant well; but their ‘distress-side’ manor was lacking.
Job’s health in shambles, his ten children dead, his wealth gone, his friends talking nonsense, and his wife suggesting he "curse God and die";” well, who would expect a man to endure such torture? Only God, perhaps, but God knew Job! And when Job finally says, "I know that my Redeemer liveth, and that, in my flesh I shall see God!"” He was well on his way to immortality.
When He took a sword of faith and shook it in the faces of the world, the flesh, and the devil, and shouted with what strength he had left, "Though He slay me, yet will I trust Him,"” there was nothing Satan and his minions could say.

God knows I am not Job. And, were God to name someone today who was like Job, He wouldn’t name me. Still, God has allowed me to fall victim to asthma, diabetes, arthritis and fibromyalgia. And the question arises, ‘How do I cope?’ When the pain is at its worst, when weakness in my hands and legs makes it almost impossible to type, walk, or hold a glass of ice tea, what do you do?

According to Job, the "foolish"” think of "cursing" God.” The wise, on the other hand, ask: "Shall we receive good at the hand of God, and not evil?”" God sends his rain on the just, and the unjust." He also "reproves, rebukes, and chastens";” and, "those who are without chastisement are bastards (illegitimate), and not sons of God."” The Bible is filled with promises of God’s faithfulness. "Lo, I am with you, even to the end of the age."
"Weeping endureth for the night, but joy comes in the morning."”
"Now you know that no chastening seems good for the moment, but painful, but, we know that in due season we shall reap – IF WE DO NOT FAINT!"”

Jesus said, "Let not your heart be troubled, you believe in God, believe also in me …”"
Fear was a part of most every life, so angels were forever saying to God'’s people, "Fear not."”
We must have faith that God is greater than any problem we face. It is necessary to always know that God can, but may not, heal us of every malady we face. He could, though He often does not, keep the devil from attacking us. He has the power to protect us, as if we were in a divinely created care-free, trouble-free, and anxiety-proofed, box. But God allows us to "walk through the valley of the shadow of death",” even though it is not necessarily a pleasant experience.
What He assures us, thankfully, is, He will walk with us through the valley, lead us beside still waters, prepare a table for us in the presence of our enemies, and anoint our head with oil; and, that, goodness and mercy would follow us "all the days of our life".”
Having made such a wonderful promise, we are still to be mindful that, "without faith, it is impossible to please God".

Accept the fact that pain is a part of life, and there will be times when God will give us miraculous, and immediate, deliverance. Those times are wonderful, but not guaranteed. No matter which way the winds blow in our life, however, GOD IS LOVE! He is mindful of our weaknesses. He knows our frame.
- -