His Purpose

This past week I've been finding it harder and harder to keep on smiling throughout all the latest challenges. When I was honest about this with my sister-in-law today, she sent me this passage in a simple facebook message, with no extra frills - just the passage below. I thought about writing my thoughts on it as a post, but actually the way she sent it to me was just right. It needs no padding out by me.....

HIS PURPOSE

Read Job 23:1-17

Job struggles, finally admitting his frustration: he cannot find God. Ever been there? Of course. All of us have! There are days we search in vain for some visible evidence of the living God.

I'm thinking, Wouldn't it be great to wake up in the middle of a full-moon sky tonight, peek out my bedroom window, and see some skywriting, "Dear Chuck, I hear you. I'm right here. I'm in charge. Love, God." I would love for that to happen! I'd love to get into my pickup after a tough day at the church, turn the radio on, and have God interrupt, saying, "Before you listen to this station, Chuck, I want to talk to you for a few minutes."

Let's face it, all of us would love to hear an audible voice or read a visible message from God. But that's not the way it works. Our walk with Him is a walk of faith, not sight. Job is a great and godly man. He is a mature saint, no doubt about it.Nevertheless, he longs to witness God's presence. "Oh, that I could know where He is. But I cannot see Him, behold Him, or perceive Him."

Though unable to locate the presence of God, Job states his trust in Him: "Eliphaz, Bildad, and Zophar, you can say whatever you wish against me. God knows which way I go. He knows the truth. He is my Justifier. He and I are on speaking terms. I trust Him. I believe in Him. Furthermore, after the trial is over, and He has accomplished His purpose within me, 'I shall come forth as gold.' "

You can count on that, my friend. When the trial has passed, you will be deeper and richer for it. Gold will replace alloy. I want you to allow those words to burn their way into your brain so deeply that they become like a divine filter for everything that happens in your life from this day forward. God knows which way you're going. And His Word will be a lamp for your path (Psalm 119:105).

Chuck SwindollFrom "Great Days with the Great Lives" (Nashville: W Publishing Group, 2005).Copyright (c) 2005 by Charles R. Swindoll, Inc.

Oh dear...I know I said I wouldn't add anything, but I have just one thing to add and I'm hoping you'll forgive me because technically, this addition contains none of my own words, only those of Isaiah! Another close friend recently read me the whole of Isaiah 40, and I feel like the last few verses in particular go well with the above so here you go:

27 Why do you say, O Jacob,
and complain, O Israel,
"My way is hidden from the LORD;
my cause is disregarded by my God"?

28 Do you not know?
Have you not heard?
The LORD is the everlasting God,
the Creator of the ends of the earth.
He will not grow tired or weary,
and his understanding no one can fathom.

29 He gives strength to the weary
and increases the power of the weak.