There is a place of sorrow, a place of trauma that leaves you feeling empty and alone. You feel abandoned by those close to you, seeking help and relief that never comes. This is the place Job is at when he expressed in Job 19:13-14: “He has removed my brothers far from me, And my acquaintances are completely estranged from me. My relatives have failed, And my intimate friends have forgotten me (NASB).” Job could not find comfort from the agony that overtook his life.
Yet he did not abandon his faith in God. In the midst of his pain, he continues to trust in the Lord. “As for me, I know that my Redeemer lives, And at the last He will take His stand on the earth,” he said in 19:25. He knew God would be victorious over all trials on this earth. He knew sorrows here on earth would be washed away in eternity with God. “Even after my skin is destroyed, Yet from my flesh I shall see God (19:26),” he said.
It is hard to remember when we struggle with pain that it is a temporal thing we go through on this earth. The sorrow is real and at times it seems never ending. Yet God is faithful. He does not abandon us in our time of need. He is there with us every moment. Remember that as a follower of Jesus, one day we will be fully restored with God and the pain we endured on earth will be gone forever.
#Retrospective: This post originally published September 29, 2020.
© 2020 CGThelen
140 Character Christian 
It is difficult to remember at times that earthly pain is temporary. We must continue to love ourselves in these times, and seek guidance from God to navigate them. I find it easy to pray when I am struggling (as used to be quite often in my struggles with depression, less so in the past couple of years having turned to God more regularly). And I am getting better at taking Good when I feel motivated and empowered, and passing on the compassion he shows to others in my life.
Yes, it’s seems I find it easier to pray in those darkest moments. I too have battled depression and praise God that he placed people in my life who prayed and walked with me. It taught me the power of prayer and the importance of sharing my struggles with others. You are so right that we need to pass on that compassion to others. Thanks for sharing your experience. Blessings
Amen!
So true. There is such comfort in knowing that when we feel isolated and alone – God is there, going through the experience with us.
Praise God! He is faithful. He is steadfast in an ever changing world. Thanks for the comment. Blessings.
I think God will remove from our lives whatever hinders our clarity in seeing Him. As He removes health, friends, family, physical resources… whatever is in our world; as He removes them, we are more able to focus entirely on Him. The content of our focus, be it anger, bitterness, or praise, is His focus.
Thanks for sharing those thoughts. I know sometimes I become too attached to the things of this world which can hinder me from focusing on God. Ultimately, God knows what is best for us. May we have faith to trust Him. Blessings.
“Help Thou my unbelief!”
I am quite sure that God wants to stretch us to trust Him completely no matter life’s circumstances. I have friends that have set a “Trust Bar” for God at a certain height. When Life events caused too much pain they were unwilling to trust God beyond that point(to this day). I remember sitting in the emergency room not knowing if our 3 year old daughter would survive and telling God “last night we prayed for safety…If we can’t trust you for a little thing like that what good are you”? God brought Job to mind “Though you slay me, yet will I trust you” And God raises the trust bar out of sight and still says “Trust me”
Well said. Thanks for sharing that powerful story about your daughter. May God deepen our faith in Him and His way. Blessings.
I appreciate your saying that suffering and agony sometimes overwhelm even the strongest person or family. There’s a line of thinking that says REAL Christians will never have “Job-level” experiences, because they are so highly favored by God.
This is hogwash!
There are devote followers of Christ who are suffering right now whose friends are saying (like David’s enemies), “Where is your God?” Meanwhile, unbelievers marvel that we shoot our own wounded.
I agree with you. We live in a fallen world full of struggles. I have been through some tough trials and God never left my side. God is steadfast, his love never fails. His grace is sufficient. Thanks for sharing your thoughts. Blessings.
Amen
Blessings.
Hallelujah what a promise to grasp tightly every day. Personally my physical health is not great, it can vary between mild discomfort and being in hospital. But I never let go of my Father God, He loves me and provides all my needs in His time. Either in comfort or pain I join Job in declaring “I know that my Redeemer lives!”
Great inspirational post, thank you and God bless you today.
Thanks for sharing about your health. I pray you will continue to be strengthened by God’s presence no matter what the day brings. Blessings.