Hi Pastor John,
I am up thinking about Job this morning. As you and Jesus have been taking us through Job, I have tried to imagine how he felt in the day-to-day suffering. I know I have no idea how awful some of those days really were, or how encouraged Job felt on some of those days either. I spent the last week with this migraine and just to see how I felt, in my heart, after mere days of pain, puts more awe in my heart for Job. What a heart God gave Job!
When Jesus lifted that pain in my head and then it came back worse than it had been, my first thought –– my very first thought –– was, “Are you mad at me Jesus? What did I do wrong, Lord?” That hurt worse than the pain.
At times, I would lie perfectly still and try to take the pain, and at other times, I would cry and beg Jesus to please take it away, telling him I couldn’t take another day of it.
When I looked up pain in the scriptures, I found this one.
Job 16:6
- If I speak, my pain is not relieved, and if I forbear, what pain of mine leaves?
To see and feel that for just a moment, and then to think of Job, does something more to my heart about what kind of heart he must have had.
God has children here with us right now who struggle to breathe every day, that have painful procedures to endure, that have cancer, that have lonely, hurting hearts. To see them and their beautiful hearts as they go through these things makes me love them more and more. It also puts a deeper prayer in my heart for Jesus to encourage and to comfort each one of them as they go through these things. A touch to feel Jesus there does so much.
What a beautiful story of God we have here in front of us! And what beautiful hearts He put in it!
Beth D.
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Thank you, Beth, for that precious testimony. I believe that it is a seed that is now planted for your healing, and I believe you will reap what you have sown. May God give the increase!
Pastor John