Site Search
LOGIN
REGISTER
SEARCH
Home
Homepage
Address Book
Community
Community
Glimpses of Grace
God's Generous and Gentle Nudging
Daily Reading
Devotionals from the Old Testament
Genesis
Job
Exodus
Leviticus
Numbers
Deuteromony
Joshua
1 Samuel
Isaiah
Jeremiah
Hosea
Jonah
Devotionals from the New Testament
Matthew
Mark
Luke
John
Acts
Romans
1 Corinthians
2 Corinthians
Galatians
Ephesians
Philippians
Colossians
1 Thessalonians
2 Thessalonians
1 Timothy
2 Timothy
Titus
Philemon
Hebrews
James
1 Peter
2 Peter
1 John
3 John
Jude
Revelation
Encouragement For Our Nation's Warriors
Checking us out?
FAQ
About EGP
Who Are We
Beth Warlick
Verna McCrillis
Megan Moffit
Erin Joy Turkington
Financial Statements
Contact Information
Doctrinal Statement
History
Newsletter
Previous Newsletters
Quick Lesson Reviews and Class Notes
Semester One Notes
Semester Two Review
Semester Two Notes
Semester Three Notes
Leader's Pearls of Wisdom
Behold Videos
Resources
Resources
Tools for life
Belief System
The Grace Exchange (sample)
Difficult Person
Expectations
Dealing With My Emotions
How Do You Listen To God?
9 Steps in Dealing With Conflict
9 Steps Chart
9 Steps Chart (page two)
Scriptures to Pray for Others
Filling Up with God's Love
Tabernacle
Daily Reading Schedules
How to Use the EGP Prayer Journal
Gospel of Grace for Children
I Get So Mad I Can't Think
Even When I Do the Wrong Thing?
Give Online
Give Online
Store
EGP Store
My orders
Establishing God's Peace
God and Comfort [Job 8]
3
"Does God pervert justice?
Or does the Almighty pervert what is right?
4
"If your sons sinned against Him,
Then He delivered them into the power of their transgression.
5
"If you would seek God
And implore the compassion of the Almighty,
6
If you are pure and upright,
Surely now He would rouse Himself for you
And restore your righteous estate.
7
"Though your beginning was insignificant,
Yet your end will increase greatly.
Just consider what Bildad said to Job as he sat in the ditch covered with sores and mourning the deaths of his sons and daughters. He said, "
If your sons sinned against Him, then He delivered them into the power of their transgression." Think about how that one sentence tore open Job's already wounded heart. Even if it was the truth, it was not the time nor place to say such a thing, but it wasn't even true! How easily we can spill out words of so called wisdom that is just our opinion mixed with a bit of truth. The truth is that God does not pervert justice and that God is the Almighty and compassionate. However, He does not fit into a nice neat formula that if we do this, He will do that every time. God's ways are not our ways. It is impossible to know exactly what He is doing in another person's life much less in our own life.
After reading Bildad's words I realized that they weren't just words to a suffering person, they were weapons causing more injury. It makes me wonder about how we can be people who speak healing words of comfort to those who are in pain around us. When I am not in pain, it is really hard to imagine what the person who is in pain is feeling and to be empathetic with them, especially if the pain is long term. God has shown me through reading this chapter today that ministering to a hurting person is not something I can do well apart from God and knowing Him well. Having a correct opinion of God is not just important when dealing with suffering people, it is critical.
We praise You, God, that You have made it clear that knowing You well is mandatory to living well in this hurting world. Cause us to remember daily spend time getting to know You and to run to You for truth and wisdom in comforting the hurting people in our lives.
Beth Warlick, 1/19/2011
From:
Comment:
Please ensure your message complies with our
Acceptable Use Policy
.
Icon:
Login
Register