With me being sick, my husband has played a great part in this: The alarm usually goes off at about 6am. The smell of fresh coffee brewing has already filled the house with it's "best part of waking up" aroma. My dear, sweet husband, makes his way into the kitchen to fill my favorite cup and grabs my medicine. He usually walks into the bedroom, scooting my little Romeo off of the bed (Romeo is my ever-devoted kitty) and helps me out of bed with a warm hug and kiss as I stand to my feet. "Here's your medicine, sweety."
"Thank you. Good morning." Is my usual reply as I sip my hot coffee and down a hand full of pills. (Brittany is amazed at my ability to swallow so many pills at once. I don't even have to wiggle my toes or jump up and down to help them make their way in like some 5 foot 3 inch people! ) :)
I make use of the time it takes for my pain medicine to kick in and sit on the bed doing my morning devotions...which is where I began this little story of mine...
Not too many days ago, I sat on my bed, warm steamy coffee in hand and my Bible on my lap...
I had been reading through my Bible and on the previous day finished up the book of Esther. (I love reading the book of Esther, although I can't help but to play it out in my mind like the movie, "One Night With the King". I love that movie and it suits me just fine to let my mind wonder this way.) So, I turn the page and what do I find? My next assignment is .... JOB. (Ahh, thanks Lord! I don't know if I want this lesson.) In the past, I have read the book of Job and wondered at Job's distress and not really understanding his response.
My first new insight was that Job was emotional and grieved.
But, "In all this Job sinned not, nor charged God foolishly." Job 1:22
You see this was such a revelation for me! I have had so many moments of grief and tears. I began to feel guilty, like I was being so unspiritual for struggling with what I was going through.
I mean REALLY! How can a mother look into the face of her sweet little dimpled seven year old and think that she may not be there to help him grow up? Or watch her girls sit on the end of her bed, talking, laughing and being silly and think she may not be there to hold their first child? There are so many aspects to dealing with a life-threatening disease. It can be so overwhelming at times.
So, you grieve, and cry and even question your struggles.
But, "In all this Job sinned not, nor charged God foolishly." Job 1:22
You mean to tell me, "It's okay to grieve and cry and struggle?"
That, "My tears don't mean that I'm unspiritual?"
How LIBERATING that truth was!
And so, I am really enjoying my study through the book of Job.
God is teaching me so much and ministering to my spirit in so many wonderful ways.
This morning has been no different!
This was what God had for me today:
Our heavenly Father sends us frequent troubles to try our faith. If our faith be worth anything, it will stand the test. Gilt is afraid of fire, but gold is not: the paste gem dreads to be touched by the diamond, but the true jewel fears no test. It is a poor faith which can only trust God when friends are true, the body full of health, and the business profitable; but that is true faith which holds by the Lord's faithfulness when friends are gone, when the body is sick, when spirits are depressed, and the light of our Father's countenance is hidden. A faith which can say, in the direst trouble, "Though he slay me, yet will I trust in him," is heaven-born faith. The Lord afflicts his servants to glorify himself, for he is greatly glorified in the graces of his people, which are his own handiwork. When "tribulation worketh patience; and patience, experience; and experience, hope," the Lord is honoured by these growing virtues. We should never know the music of the harp if the strings were left untouched; nor enjoy the juice of the grape if it were not trodden in the winepress; nor discover the sweet perfume of cinnamon if it were not pressed and beaten; nor feel the warmth of fire if the coals were not utterly consumed. The wisdom and power of the great Workman are discovered by the trials through which his vessels of mercy are permitted to pass. Present afflictions tend also to heighten future joy. There must be shades in the picture to bring out the beauty of the lights. Could we be so supremely blessed in heaven, if we had not known the curse of sin and the sorrow of earth? Will not peace be sweeter after conflict, and rest more welcome after toil? Will not the recollection of past sufferings enhance the bliss of the glorified? There are many other comfortable answers to the question with which we opened our brief meditation, let us muse upon it all day long.
This is a great post, and I really like the quote from Spurgeon. God's grace is so amazing!
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