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When Suffering Continues: This Is Life

The other day while on lunch break from our homeschooling, I heard a commercial that said something to the effect of "Stop the harassing phone calls from bill collectors. Call ### and press the reset button."
 We have been struggling financially and there seems to be no end in sight.  Our house is in desperate need of a new floor but there is just not enough money to fix it right now.  My parents have been nothing short of life savers for a good while now and I know that it has to be getting old for them.
If I let myself dwell on these things I would absolutely drive myself into a hole. Depression is very real and for someone who already suffers from depression and anxiety, this can push you to the edge.

So I go about my days, pretending that things are okay, giving tests and teaching life lessons (although most days I don't feel qualified because I'm FAILING at life), helping my parents and grandparents when I can, preparing for my Wednesday night Discovery class, and worried about how in the world we can stay afloat another week.
You see, suffering is often a two-sided coin.  On one side suffering may be viewed as coming from God to bring out the best in us.  On the other side Satan attempts to use the same suffering to bring out the worst in us.
Quick little story: my dad had his surgery on Friday.  He made it through and got to come home on Sunday evening.  We won't know the pathology report results until Thursday, we will also find out what is next...radiation, etc.  Sunday morning our pastor preached a message from the first chapter of Job.  This is obviously not a new message.  We know the story of Job.  He was a "perfect and upright man and he feared God and avoided evil". He was considered "the greatest of all of the men in the east". We also know that God allowed Satan to take everything from him except his life.
But everything that he did take from Job included his family (except that lovely wife!), everything he owned, and left him with painful boils all over his body... and that lovely wife.
In chapter one we see how Job went from having everything to absolutely nothing. We see that Job grieved (rent his mantle and shaved his head) but then worshipped. In fact, verses 21 and 22  says, "And said, Naked came I out of my mother's womb, and naked shall I return thither: the Lord gave, and the Lord hath taken away; blessed be the name of the Lord. In all this Job sinned not, nor charged God foolishly."
So Job had it all, lost it all but still worshipped God.  After hearing all of this I have to admit that I felt convicted about my behavior. Things are not like I would like them to be right now, BUT there are several lessons we can take from Job.
Job never saw why he suffered, but he saw God, and that was enough.

Much Love,
Beth



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