Few Days and Full of Trouble - Job 14-16 and Acts 9:22-43
Now that I am 52 years old I can understand what Job says here much better than when I was younger. Life is of few days and full of trouble. Anyone who is expecting life to seem long and drawn out is mistaken. The older we get the shorter life seems to be, and the faster the days pass. Also, life is a series of troubles from cradle to the grave. Anyone who is looking for life to be a bed of roses is mistaken, too. The fact is that life consists of how we handle our troubles. If we allow the troubles to turn us to the Lord, then, life will be wonderful, but if we try to handle them ourselves, we will have much regret and heart ache.
Think about Job's life. He lost his loved ones, his possessions, and his health. The main difference between Job and us is that he lost all of them at the same time. Everyone experiences the loss of loved ones in life. Most people experience financial set backs and hard times. We all have physical pains and suffering if we live very long. These are the troubles of life along with interpersonal relationship troubles. Job faced his troubles with faith in God, so his life turned out good. How are you facing the troubles in your life?
Saul must have had some second thoughts about becoming a believer. Once he was saved, the Jews sought to kill him, so he had to hide from them and flee in secrecy. When he got to Jerusalem the disciples would not trust him and meet with him. Only Barnabas befriended him. Then, because of danger he had to flee back home to Tarsus. He must have felt very abandoned for a while. However, he was not defeated by his troubles. He trusted God and later, he saw many wonderful victories and relationships in his life. At the same time that Saul was being whisked away for his safety, Peter was healing people and seeing the dead raised back to life. These were rare spiritual victories, and they must have been very encouraging. However, we could ask why did Peter have the victories then, and Saul had to flee? That is life. We don't need to figure it all out. Leave that in God's hands. Just know that life is few days and full of trouble. Use each day to the fullest and trust God through the trials. Rejoice and cherish all of the victories, until we reach heaven with our Lord Jesus Christ.
Tomorrow, I intend to read Job 17-19 and Acts 10:1-23.
Think about Job's life. He lost his loved ones, his possessions, and his health. The main difference between Job and us is that he lost all of them at the same time. Everyone experiences the loss of loved ones in life. Most people experience financial set backs and hard times. We all have physical pains and suffering if we live very long. These are the troubles of life along with interpersonal relationship troubles. Job faced his troubles with faith in God, so his life turned out good. How are you facing the troubles in your life?
Saul must have had some second thoughts about becoming a believer. Once he was saved, the Jews sought to kill him, so he had to hide from them and flee in secrecy. When he got to Jerusalem the disciples would not trust him and meet with him. Only Barnabas befriended him. Then, because of danger he had to flee back home to Tarsus. He must have felt very abandoned for a while. However, he was not defeated by his troubles. He trusted God and later, he saw many wonderful victories and relationships in his life. At the same time that Saul was being whisked away for his safety, Peter was healing people and seeing the dead raised back to life. These were rare spiritual victories, and they must have been very encouraging. However, we could ask why did Peter have the victories then, and Saul had to flee? That is life. We don't need to figure it all out. Leave that in God's hands. Just know that life is few days and full of trouble. Use each day to the fullest and trust God through the trials. Rejoice and cherish all of the victories, until we reach heaven with our Lord Jesus Christ.
Tomorrow, I intend to read Job 17-19 and Acts 10:1-23.