“How wilt thou speak these things? And how long shall the words of thy mouth be like a strong wind? Doth God pervert judgment? Or doth the Almighty pervert justice? If thy children have sinned against him and he have cast them away for their transgression; if thou would seek God betimes, and make thy supplication unto the Almighty; If thou were pure and upright; surely now he would awake for thee, and make the habitation of thy righteousness prosperous. Though thy beginning was small, yet thy latter end should greatly increase.” -Job 8:2-6

Job was a man that was blameless and upright; he feared God and departed from evil. In the eighth chapter of Job, Bildad (Job’s friend) spoke and reminded Job of the kind of man that he had always been ( v.2,6,13,20) taking to heart his situation of despair (the sorrow of losing his seven sons and three daughters and all his possessions).
It is imperative that we remember, “The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit: a broken and contrite heart, O God, though wilt not despise.”(Ps. 51:17) God’s ear is ready to listen in the midst of our grief and sorrow (Isa.59:1). Though the pain we suffer in this life does not come from God, He is ever present to grant unto us His Holy Spirit to fill us with His comfort and His wisdom to move us through.

We read in the end of Job’s account that God’s promises in Job’s life were definitely more than just words, “And the Lord turned the captivity of Job, when he prayed for his friends: Also the Lord gave job twice as much he had before.” (Job 8:6,20)

Have you taken the time to question the Lord about the feelings or things that you are experiencing in your life, even in times of despair? Are you determined to take a hold of God’s promises for your life (Jer. 29:11), to draw near to him (Jas. 4:8), and count every miracle and victory (Rom. 8:18, 31-35) that the Lord has performed in your life? To become sensitive to the pain of others is a journey and part of it is drawing closer to God’s heart. It says in Jeremiah 33:3, “call unto me and I will answer thee…” This is the best choice you can ever make. Not only that you will be blessed, but you will also find peace and victory as Job did (Ps.1:1-3).

Prayer:
“Father, today I invite your Holy Spirit to come to dwell on the inside of me. I have been in despair many times and have felt betrayed by circumstances in life, but I now have decided to follow your ways. I am giving you permission to heal me from inside out. I want to change. I thank you for always being with me, even when I don’t feel you. I know that you are here and that your presence is embracing me with your everlasting love and mercy. I am ready for another journey with you and will face any situation with a greater joy and peace, knowing you always cause me to triumph! IN JESUS’S NAME, AMEN!”

“13For thou hast possessed my reins: thou hast covered me in my mother’s womb. 14I will praise thee; for I am fearfully and wonderfully made: marvellous are thy works;… 16 … and in thy book all my members were written, which in continuance were fashioned, when as yet there was none of them.” -Psalm 139:13-14, 16

Before we were born, God created and fashioned us with a specific purpose in mind. This was stated about Isaiah (Isa. 49:1:3-5), Jeremiah (Jer.1:5), John the Baptist (Lk.1:13-17), and Jesus (Mt. 1:20-23). Another translation states verse 13 this way: “For You did form my inner parts; You did knit me together.” Have you ever noticed the stitching of a knitted blanket or scarf? It is intricately harmonized and synchronized with the other stitches to create a design or a pattern. When done correctly, the finished product is beautiful. God has fearfully and wonderfully put you together and His works are marvelous. There is no one else like you and there will never ever be another you. You are one of a kind. So be who God has created you to be. BE YOURSELF!