Job 42:1-6, 10-17 and Psalm 34:1-8

Pastor Kristi A. Webster

Who was Job that he might be able to relate to us or that we might be able to relate to him? Job suffered. Job suffered much in all aspects of life - he suffered physically, mentally, personally, materially. He suffered and he questioned God. He asked "Why" and Why me? He didn’t want to back down or let it go. He wanted an answer from God. It is not so much that Job suffered that we care about but the fact that he suffered like you and I do. He and we suffer from what we consider undeserved suffering. It seems like in our lives just when we are getting back on track and things are looking up, something comes along and wipes us out or knocks us down or detains us. One thing that Job did in his suffering and turmoil was to shout out to God, sometimes in our lives we are too timid or don’t think it is appropriate to turn to God and ask questions. We sometimes feel that is just not acceptable but God expects us to ask questions and to ponder and to find answers. Job doesn’t tell us to blame God or to curse God. He doesn’t give us permission to strike out at him. Suffering is a mystery. Now I am sure in your time of suffering you did not or do not think of it as a mystery. But it is. It comes out of nowhere and in the end disappears. It is in this time of suffering that we often find another mystery - the mystery of God. We expect God to give us good days and we accept them willfully but when it comes to suffering and bad days we often curse God. Shouldn’t we expect some bad with the good. Isn’t all of life that way. Sometimes in our suffering is when we find great joy, peace and presence. It is through our suffering that we find God. The one who can wipe away every tear, can ease our sorrow, can bind up our broken hearts, can encourage us and lead us into a mystery that we cannot fathom how we go there. No suffering is not pleasant but sometimes, just sometimes, it opens up a whole new world for us. It takes us places where we would never go on our own. It leads us to explore and experience something new and wonderful. In your lifetime you have no doubt had some times of suffering and what has brought you through? Your prayers to God through your tears and in your gasps for air words to the Father. It is through our pain and suffering that we find God. We find the real true being, the Mystery of the Holy One. Job endured much and in the end he came out totally blessed in family, material things, livestock, and God’s goodness and love. God calls to us in our darkest hour and in the end we know that God is there and has always been there for us. He has carried us through our times of suffering and despair. Our times of joy and of sorrow, sickness, sadness, poverty, and want. We cannot grasp the mystery of God’s love and power. God brings healing and comfort when we open ourselves up and are vulnerable and ready and willing to let him be in control. It brings to mind to me the little saying - "let go and let God". Much easier said than done but in the end the only true answer. God can turn our suffering into strength and compassion. When we face devastation in our lives, and that can come in many different ways, we simply don’t know what to do or where to turn - but I am telling you friends - the one and only way to turn is to God. If we can cast all our cares upon him and truly let him be in charge and in the mystery of the Holy Being confidently let him have it - we can turn our suffering into strength and compassion for ourselves, our families, our friends, and those who surround us as a great cloud of witnesses. To me life is a total mystery and why we have to face some of the things we do, I cannot answer, but I can say that God is there. He is ever present with us. God will heal us and restore us if we allow him. In our lives it is important to give thanks and praise to our God who does deliver us out of our depths and heal our wounds. It is through worship, real true worship that we can lift our hearts, minds and voice to God. We are called to reach out to God with our cares and concerns but also with our thanksgiving and praise for the many many blessings that he sheds on us. Even in our suffering and despair we can find blessings that have been showered down upon us. And one may ask, how do I do that when I am so lost, afraid, down and out? By turning to our Savior and saying - "Thanks be to God" for the beauty of this day. For another breathe, for another day to see my children and my family, for the birds that sing and the butterflies and bugs that fly, for the beauty of nature, the rain that falls, for the sunshine, for the hug, call or card that we received. If we can give more of our energy to finding the many blessings in our lives then they would outway the stresses in our lives and we could spend time in worship, real true worship praising our Savior all the day long. Our God is an attentive God, one who cares for all. The rich, the poor, the marginalized, the weak, the strong, the lost, the found. God knows our every broken piece of our lives and in the end when all is said and done - all those pieces will be put back together and we will be redeemed and be whole again in God’s peace and presence. Suffering isn’t for an eternity only for a short moment here on earth. May you find and feel God’s goodness in the midst of your strife and turmoil and may you remember to keep your eyes on Jesus and as you look into his wonderful face, the things of the earth will disappear and you will find yourself in his glory and grace.

No one who takes refuge in God will be lost. No one.

Kristi  A. Webster, Pastor
Niles Valley United Methodist Church
www.nilesvalleychurch.org

"We are small, but with God's help, we are mighty. Serve with a smile in your heart and it will show on your face!
May your day be blessed.