Suffering-1.30.15

The Bible doesn’t give clear guidelines for assigning responsibility to our suffering. Job is a great example. Although we know that Satan caused Job’s suffering, Job didn’t know why. (Did he?) The only thing God revealed was that he is God and Job was not.

1 Peter 4:12
"Beloved, do not be surprised at the fiery trial when it comes upon you to test you, as though something strange were happening to you."

Now we know sometimes suffering is our own doing and there is no one to blame but ourselves. Other times suffering is at the hands of others. And then other times suffering... just is... and there is no answer. We aren’t meant to know all the reasons and have explanations for everything. Somehow we think it isn’t going to happen to us, but we will all deal with some form of suffering in our life over and over again. We will all lose people we love. We will all have hardships.

John 16:33
"I have said these things to you, that in me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation. But take heart; I have overcome the world.”

Do we find we are on a constant quest to be happy and avoid problems? If our families are happy, life is a success. Is that when we feel we are worthy of God’s love? We scramble to keep up a good image to the world….and God. We hide until we can get ourselves looking good again. Do we then wonder why we lack an intimate relationship with God when the going gets tough? Yet God is calling us to Him no matter where we are at. God longs for us to know Him. He loves us and accepts us right where we are. But are WE turning our backs on Him? 

Proverbs 8:17
"I love those who love me, and those who seek me diligently find me."

I have always asked myself am I closer to God now than I was a year ago? Have I learned? Am I wiser? I haven’t always been able to say that. Are YOU closer to God now than you were a year ago?