“Do you remember the story of Job? It’s a story of great suffering, but also of great strength, and even greater faith. Like in the story of Job, it can feel overwhelming to not be able to have a simple answer to suffering and hardship as we are enduring it, but God gives Himself as the ultimate answer. He is the ultimate comforter and healer, and He is our Redeemer.
Strength in Suffering
It is often easier to reflect back at pain and see how He strengthened you, or how He wove a deep hurt into a bigger purpose, but what about now, in your present? What about when it feels like there is no end in sight? Like you have nothing left? No more tears. No more energy. Nothing…
Is there something in the present that you need to lean into Him for and trust that He’s got you?
Proverbs 3:5-6 says “Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and lean not on your own understanding. In all your ways submit to Him, and He will make your paths straight.” Our own understanding, and even those of our “comforters” like in the story of Job, can deceive us. It’s important, necessary, and valuable to have a faithful support system, but ultimately, we are all human. Our baseline in everything that we do should be Jesus.
Let it Go
It is also important to unclasp our hands and let it go. We must truly submit to Him without controlling it anymore, or, letting the situation control us.
Even then, we will never have all of the answers when bad things happen. That is the “trust” part of that verse. We are broken people in a broken world. We have to have faith in His plan. This is a hard truth. It’s okay to hurt as Job did, we will, but also we have to remember that He is bigger. Always. He is the only one who sees the whole picture.
So, when suffering inevitably comes your way, you know what to do. Cling to Him. Cry to Him, share your truth in prayer. And remember, that even when you don’t know where to go from here, you got through it before, and He will help you find your way again. He is always with you. Lean into Him. Gods got you. He is THE BEST guide. “
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