Have you ever been at that point when life does not seem to make sense anymore? Have you been so pressed and strained that you lack the strength to take another step? Trust me; I have there. It could be with the death of a beloved one, sickness, betrayals, series of failures, and other distressing issues. Often, life takes us on an endless journey from one challenge to another.
Life is not always fair, many would say. But there is something you need to know today; you are not alone. Many people are going through the same or even worse situations. Marty Rubin would say that “behind every mask, there is a face, and behind that face, a story.” Forget about how fanciful the mask or face may look; people have their terrible backstories.
The Example of Job’s Brokenness!
In the Book of Job (7: 1-4,6-7), we hear about the man who could qualify as the patron of suffering. Among other things, Job describes life on earth as drudgery that is hard work or struggle. He further laments that he has been assigned months of misery with troubled and restless nights.
We know that Job lost all his possessions and his children in one day. It was one calamity after another until his skin was infected with sores. We also know that God allowed Job to go through all those troubles because God placed a bet on him to disprove the devil’s claim that Job’s righteousness was dependant on his wealth and possessions. What if the challenges around you are part of God’s bet on your faith? Food for thought!
The Healing Presence of Jesus Christ
Mark’s Gospel (1:29-39) gives us a scenario that shows a massive healing of various sicknesses by our Lord Jesus Christ. It began in Simon and Andrew’s house, where Simon’s mother-in-law was lying down with a great fever. When Jesus learned about her illness, he comes to her, and grasping her hand, he helps her up, and the fever left her immediately. That same day they brought all who were sick, and Jesus cured all of them.
Notice that the presence of Jesus Christ regenerated Simon’s mother-in-law and those of all the sick they brought to him. No sickness could stand the presence of our Lord Jesus Christ. We did not hear about anyone who came to Jesus with any illness and could not get healing. The Book Acts of the Apostles (10:38) tells us that Jesus Christ was anointed with the Holy Ghost and power and went about doing good and healing ALL who the devil oppressed.
Moving Forward: God will Heal your Brokenness!
Beyond Job’s complaints and lamentations over his miseries, he did not lose his faith in God; in fact, he was bold in spirit to declare, “my redeemer lives” (Job 19:25) despite his challenges. Job was, in order words, saying that God is the one that would redeem him from his troubles. He was also sure that because God lives, he will also live (John 14:19).
The Book of the Psalm (147:3) says that God heals the broken-hearted and binds up their wounds. The good news is that no storm lasts forever. No matter how strong it rages, it will soon pass. Notice that at the end of Job’s narrative (42:10), God restored his fortunes and gave him twice more than he had before. Isaiah (61:7) says because your shame was double and dishonor was proclaimed as your lot, you shall have a double portion.
Moving forward, at what point are you in your life? You could be as challenged as Job or as down as the mother-in-law of Simon, but there is good news. The Book of Job (22:29) talks about lifting even when there is a casting down. The Book of Jeremiah (30:17) says that God will restore you to health and heal your wounds.
The simple thing you need to do is to bring that burden to the Lord, and He will sustain you (1 Peter 5:7). Why carry a load when someone has offered to take it up? Do not make the mistake of quitting, it often gets worse before it gets better. Rather, wait as Job and God will surely show up if you do not give up. Like Simon’s mother-in-law, the Lord will grasp your hand, and you shall rise again. Faith and trust would lead you to your victory.
God bless you and have a blessed weekend and a glorious week ahead.
Fr. Bonnie.