God Is Merciful & With Us!
Job agonises over his situation.
His three friends explain that
he must be suffering because
of some terrible sin he committed.
They try to persuade Job to repent
of his sin. When Job argues that
he hasn’t sinned enough to deserve
such suffering his friends respond
with even harsher accusations.
Lord, we know You are With Us:
Eliphaz replied: Stop and think!
Does the innocent person perish?
When has upright been destroyed?
My experience shows that those
who plant trouble and cultivate evil
will harvest the same. They perish
by a breadth from God. They vanish
in a blast of his anger (Job 4:1-9).
Affliction does not come from dust…
Yet man is born to trouble…
But for me, I would seek God.
And to God I would commit
my cause – who does great things,
and… marvelous things (Job 5:6-9).
Job: What is man that You make
so much of him, that You give
him so much attention. Have I
sinned? What have I done to You,
O watcher of all humanity? Why
have You made me Your target?
Why not just pardon my sin and
take away my guilt? (Job 7:17-20)
Dear Lord, help us learn from the
painful experience of Job how to
be a true friend & not be careless in
words basing on wrong assumption
that suffering is a result of sin.
Help us to Be Careful With Advice
& lead us to listen empathetically.
Help us when under trial, to learn
from Job: Claiming You’re With Us
and believing in Your mercy. Amen.
Lord, help us to be careful of
what we say lest our words only
serve to increase pain of others.
Help us avoid come to conclusion
too readily or take a truth and
simply apply to someone’s life.
Help us realise that You can use
suffering to transform character.
Help us look at suffering as test
of our faithfulness to You. Amen.
Lord, it is hard to comprehend
the depth of Your love and why
You care about details of my life.
Where bad things have occurred
and I have blamed You Lord,
I humbly ask for forgiveness.
Thank You O God for working
things out for my good. And
Grateful that even in difficult
times You Lord are with me;
and draw me close to You. Amen.