Tots from Job

Just started reading the book of Job, covered till chapter 14.

The more I read of Job, the more amazed I am of his faith in God and trust in Him. Even when he was afflicted with such terrible plight (lost all his children and property in a night, plus was cursed with a terrible skin disease), he never turn to curse God or blame Him for his sufferings. Yet, he was always praising God!!!!

[after knowing all his children had died and his property lost] Job got us and tore his robe and shaved his head, Then he fell to the ground in worship and said
"Naked I came from my mother's womb,
and naked I will depart.
The Lord gave and the Lord has taken away;
may the name of the Lord be praised." --- Job 1:20-21

Just imagine that!!! It is always a natural tendency to want to blame God for everything bad that has befallen on us. It's so easy to say that "God hates me" thus he sent down curses instead of blessings, take us thru the road of suffering instead of joy, gives us affliction instead of affirmation...BUT NO!!! God is a God of love (John 3:16 "For God so loved the world...") and he definitely does not despise us (Genesis 1:31 "God saw all that he had made, and it was VERY good"). I pray that I will rmb these and praise God even in times of sufferings.

Well, Job's friends oso gave me some tot about myself. Job's friends truly cared for Job (hey, they mourned with him in silence for 7 days [Job2:11-13]), yet their words of comfort became words of pain. They were constantly telling Job that his sufferings are due to his sins and that he should quickly repent and seek God's forgiveness. But Job was a righteous man! How often have I been judging my friends instead of offering comfort. While the bible says "If your brother sins, rebuke him" (Luke 17:3), it also calls us to "speak truth in love" (Eph 4:15). O Lord, give me wisdom in speaking with my friends, to offer comfort and direction.