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| Cover page for the book of Job with a reference to James |
Hey everyone!
Deeds here, with another blog post and Youtube process video for Creative Worship! I love this blog. I love that you're coming. I love that this is making an impact in the lives of so many.
I pray that today you will find this blog a blessing and encouragement, particularly because it covers a topic that I find the hardest to understand.
Deeds here, with another blog post and Youtube process video for Creative Worship! I love this blog. I love that you're coming. I love that this is making an impact in the lives of so many.
I pray that today you will find this blog a blessing and encouragement, particularly because it covers a topic that I find the hardest to understand.
Dear friends, this
is - by far - one of the hardest blogs I've had to write; it's the hardest of
topics that I've ever had to think about:
JOY through SUFFERING.
JOY through SUFFERING.
And, what is
joy?
What does it look like for me?
What does it look like for me?
What does joy look
like in the believer in the midst of pain and suffering?
And guess what? I don't have the answers to all of these questions. The biggest issue I'm grappling with right now is how to explain joy in the middle of suffering.
Let me first explain why this lands on my radar. WHY in the world am I so fixated on joy in suffering? Cheer in the midst of sorrow?
Well, firstly I'm in
the book of Job. I have a Bible reading
plan that I follow. It takes me through
chapters at a time of certain books, and only small sprigs of scripture other
times. I’m liking they layout of the
plan!
But, Job?
Oi. Job.
I confess that my heart was achy before I even read the first chapter. My mind wrestled with God on this topic of the suffering believer. My soul cringed at the mess that would come as I dealt with some real struggles as a believer in a fallen, depraved, starving world.
Oi. Job.
I confess that my heart was achy before I even read the first chapter. My mind wrestled with God on this topic of the suffering believer. My soul cringed at the mess that would come as I dealt with some real struggles as a believer in a fallen, depraved, starving world.
Y'all, there's a lot
to this concept of joy.
There's a LOT to the marriage of joy & suffering.
For the sake of not getting ahead of myself, and attempting to stay clear, I've come up with a few bullet points (and hopefully helpful reminders) on what I've learned since I began this journey in Job.
-Suffering passes through the throne of Grace.
There's a LOT to the marriage of joy & suffering.
For the sake of not getting ahead of myself, and attempting to stay clear, I've come up with a few bullet points (and hopefully helpful reminders) on what I've learned since I began this journey in Job.
-Suffering passes through the throne of Grace.
-Suffering is only
allowed, by this Throne, to the extent that it is turned around for His glory.
-Suffering is meant
to draw us ever closer to the throne that has more than enough grace to see us
through "in time of need." (Heb. 4:16)
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| Reference: Job 1:6ff |
These are the basics
of what I've come to understand about Job.
It's what I've come to experience daily as the battle rages for my
heart.
Job experienced one of the highest levels of suffering that we know of. His wealth, his children, his property, his
inheritance, his health, his future…gone.
Gone in an instant. Gone
forever. Gone without
reason…
Chapters following his initial loss are COMPLETELY taken over by a discussion that would sooner prove unhelpful, unencouraging, un-insightful, and unwanted than be considered imparted grace and life. Job had some lousy friends. Worse yet, he had a terrible wife.
Chapters following his initial loss are COMPLETELY taken over by a discussion that would sooner prove unhelpful, unencouraging, un-insightful, and unwanted than be considered imparted grace and life. Job had some lousy friends. Worse yet, he had a terrible wife.
He had it bad.
He had it the worst.
"Dude took an
L," is how I would hear my kids put it.
And it actually happened - this account is not a sad story of a kid's book with no premise and little moral value. This truly took place in our history. Job was a real "dude."
And it actually happened - this account is not a sad story of a kid's book with no premise and little moral value. This truly took place in our history. Job was a real "dude."
I believe Job is written for our good; for us to see how we can handle the
issues of sickness, rejection, loss, and the temptation to lose hope.
BUT, I more so believe that this amazing account directs us to the One who suffered the most; the One who gave it all; the One who incurred the most rejection, the most ridicule, the most loss, the most burden, the most judgment, and the most wrath, even unto death on the cross.
The Bible says,
"Therefore, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us also lay aside every weight, and sin which clings so closely, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, KEEPING OUR EYES ON JESUS, the founder and perfecter of our faith, WHO FOR THE JOY THAT WAS SET BEFORE HIM ENDURRED THE CROSS, despising the shame, and is seated at the right hand of the throne of God. Consider him who endured from sinners such hostility against himself, so that you may not grow weary or fainthearted. In your struggle against sin you have not yet resisted to the point of shedding your blood." (Hebrews 12:1-4, emphasis mine)
BUT, I more so believe that this amazing account directs us to the One who suffered the most; the One who gave it all; the One who incurred the most rejection, the most ridicule, the most loss, the most burden, the most judgment, and the most wrath, even unto death on the cross.
The Bible says,
"Therefore, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us also lay aside every weight, and sin which clings so closely, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, KEEPING OUR EYES ON JESUS, the founder and perfecter of our faith, WHO FOR THE JOY THAT WAS SET BEFORE HIM ENDURRED THE CROSS, despising the shame, and is seated at the right hand of the throne of God. Consider him who endured from sinners such hostility against himself, so that you may not grow weary or fainthearted. In your struggle against sin you have not yet resisted to the point of shedding your blood." (Hebrews 12:1-4, emphasis mine)
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| Stamp set used: "Choose Faith" Affiliate link here: http://www.sweetnsassystamps.com?aff=7 |
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| Small prayer of hope that God will show me His heart. |
It's not easy being weary in heartbreak and body ache. It's not easy enduring the loss of a friend,
or the rejection of a husband. It's NOT
easy.
It's part of our fallen world to encounter the problems we face, and it's totally natural to fall faint-hearted to the pressure of pain and sorrow.
God knows us; He knows our heart.
He loves us; He purchased our soul.
It's part of our fallen world to encounter the problems we face, and it's totally natural to fall faint-hearted to the pressure of pain and sorrow.
God knows us; He knows our heart.
He loves us; He purchased our soul.
By the blood that
was shed on the cross, He bought back what has been taken away from us by
sin. Through His love in life and death,
Jesus our Redeemer, LIVES ON to bring help, hope and joy to us, His
joint-heirs!
We suffer, though not alone.
We suffer, though not alone.
We faint, though not
to death.
We endure, though
not needlessly.
God is good; God is
sovereign; and God is in control. When
going through the hardest of situations and the desperate of circumstances,
remember that the Lord God Almighty has intentions for turning what the enemy
means for harm and cursing into a matter of grace and glory for God!
Job said, "I know my Redeemer lives!" (Job 19:25)
This is a mantra and creed for the Christian faith as we work together, running the race, singing in suffering and enduring to glory!
Job said, "I know my Redeemer lives!" (Job 19:25)
This is a mantra and creed for the Christian faith as we work together, running the race, singing in suffering and enduring to glory!
"My brethren, count it all joy when you
fall into various trials, knowing
that the testing of your faith produces patience." (James 1:2-3)
Much love,
Deeds
