SOAP: Thoughts on suffering

Scripture: Job 6:13

Do I have any power to help myself,

now that success has been driven from me?

Observation: Job has plunged into terrible suffering and cannot understand why. He is in such despair and is trying to figure out how to get back to where he was.

I wonder if those who love the Lord who and are in true poverty or other unbearable circumstances wonder the same thing:  How in the world can I get out of this situation? I have lost all I know of success and what do I do now?

Application: I am reading The Hole in Our Gospel by Richard Stearns of World Vision which discusses how critical it is that we, as Christians, care for those in poverty and not look the other way.

My reading of Job is reminding me that we cannot know why those who are suffering do suffer.

Job’s friends had all sorts of ideas as to why Job’s condition was, in some way, his fault or his family’s fault when, in fact it wasn’t.
Perhaps the Lord is reminding us here that one’s condition on earth is not for another to judge, nor is it for us to explain. He just wants us to show compassion regardless.

Prayer: Lord, thank you for the countless blessings you offer me daily. Thank you for more conveniences and joy-filled moments than I deserve… I DO enjoy them!

Please guide me in serving you and those much less fortunate better. Guide me in not analyzing how or why one arrived in what appears to be a less-fortunate situation, but instead give me a more loving, serving heart.

Show me where you want me and equip me as you know I am needed.

And, please Lord, let those trapped in true devastation see you daily in some undeniable way.

Thank you.

PS: If you are joining me in praying for your husband daily, today we are praying for his attitude.


Comments

One response to “SOAP: Thoughts on suffering”

  1. Amen sister! What a great reminder for all of us.

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