Job 2: 7-10 (NIV)
7 So Satan went out from the presence of the LORD and afflicted Job with painful sores from the soles of his feet to the top of his head. 8 Then Job took a piece of broken pottery and scraped himself with it as he sat among the ashes.
9 His wife said to him, "Are you still holding on to your integrity? Curse God and die!"
10 He replied, "You are talking like a foolish woman. Shall we accept good from God, and not trouble?"
In all this, Job did not sin in what he said.
I woke up this morning with this verse on my heart and I began to think about the many things that have come against me and my family in these last few years. I know many of you reading this blog post will be able to relate.
Many times, while I was growing up, you could deduct from church, sermons, and what many people would say, that troubles only come from satan and happened because of some wrong choice made, well, I have learned that this is not the case. Even though God does not do the bad to you, He can allow things to occur to strengthen you and to bring glory to His name, and to bring you to a good outcome in your life.
I have one testimony to share with you of this fact. I will keep this post short and will not go into the many details, because the outcome is what is important, not the details leading to it.
A couple of years ago I was told (by the Lord) to leave (or drop my net so to speak) the career I was employed in. It was a very unpopular proposition for both my wife and I, even though the way had already been prepared for me by troubles occurring at the company. My wife and I's desire was to follow Jesus' plan for us, but we still delayed until Jesus confirmed what He had told me to do. To make a long story short, we lost everything, and with this, we had to move in with my wife's parents until further notice. It didn't take long to start doubting the way we had chosen and to make matters worse, the move was unpopular with my wife's family.
The reason for us being there started showing up six months after moving in. My wife's father is in the late stages of Dementia and her mother had also started the stages.
When my wife needed to start assisting them with all matters of their lives, you could see the troubles arise that were unknown beforehand, along with critical issues that God wanted to deal with. Through all of it, God's love and concern for my wife's parents could be seen in all its glory, because if the Lord had not sent us there to help them, perhaps her parents might not be with us today, and a lot of trouble would have been left for the family to deal with later.
Through all of this, the Lord has always provided for my families' needs. He has brought me side jobs to make the money when we need it and has also provided us income by other means, along with promises to restore all to us.
So troubles don't necessarily come because of a mistake made, for God knows all and holds all in His hands, and to say that a mistake of ours sent us down a road that God was unaware of, is simply untrue. God uses the bad to mature us and to bring us to a common good for all.
Romans 8:28 (NIV)
28 And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him who have been called according to his purpose.
Which brings me to another point. Many things we hear today leads us to believe that all is for us, that everything that God allows to happen is for His people, this is taking the focus off what is true. Jesus did not die on the Cross for the glory of us, He died for the Glory of God and to save us through the Blood of Jesus Christ, so all that happens is for the Glory of God, not Man or His Church. The Lord never promised us a trouble-free pleasant life, and with this we can deduct that all that occurs and all that we go through, is for Him and His Glory in the end, with us by His side. Besides, He loves us too much to let us stay like we are, we have to be changed into His likeness and this does not come from pampering, it comes by fire and storms, but we can be sure that God is with us through it all, and when the storm is over, there will be a good outcome for all affected by the situation.
My testimony above could be seen as a storm and a bad decision on my part, but it was part of God's plan for us, and in reality it was a blessing for my wife's parents and we have been changed in many ways through this time, so the outcome has been positive for both parties involved.
Remember, Jesus does not bring us the bad, but He allows it and watches over us through it, so that His plan and purpose for us will be done in the end, before our next beginning begins.
In Christ,
Christopher Moss
I am a vessel of the Holy Spirit.
A vessel is useless unless it is filled, and a vessel can do nothing as of itself, so as this vessel is poured out, I pen its contents as it flows. - Christopher Moss
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