I am so glad that God is faithful. No matter what we’re going through, He knows about it and cares for us, and knows how to work everything out for our good. We might not think so when we’re suffering. We can make ourselves believe, especially when we’re in pain, that God has forgotten us. But there is no forgetting with God. God doesn’t ever forget. He said in His word:
Can a woman forget her sucking child, that she should not have compassion on the son of her womb? yea, they may forget, yet will I not forget thee. {Isaiah 49:15}
Job knew what suffering was. He lost all his children, his sheep, his cattle and his servants, (except the ones Satan allowed to escape so that they can tell Job what happened), all in one day. Not only that, his wife scorned him because he continued to uphold his integrity and would not turn against God and curse Him so that he will die. Imagine that, his wife wanted him to curse God so that he would die. You would think that she would be thankful he was still alive after everything that had happened to them. On top of all of this, Satan attacked his body that he had boils all over so bad he would scrape them with sharp pieces of broken pottery. Who wouldn’t want to die then? But still, Satan wasn’t done yet, because when things were at their worst, here comes Job’s three friends, who supposedly had come to comfort him, but they ended up persecuting him. They told him that the very reason why all these calamities had befallen him is because he had done something wicked and God is angry with him.
Surely, none of us can even come close to the suffering Job had experienced, and yet when we’re in pain and we want relief and we’ve been crying to God to deliver us, we can’t help but start to feel that God has indeed forsaken us. He has forgotten us. Where is He?
God is where He’s always been: ever so close and near to those who call upon Him. He promised to never leave us nor forsake us. He promised to be with us even until the end of the world.
Be strong and of a good courage, fear not, nor be afraid of them: for the LORD thy God, he it is that doth go with thee; he will not fail thee, nor forsake thee. {Deuteronomy 31:6}
…Lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world. {Matthew 28:30}
The only way not to lose heart and not to lose our faith in the Lord when we’re suffering is to keep talking to Him and keep telling Him how we’re feeling. We also need to read His word and learn lessons of hope, faith, and trust through the experiences of faithful men and women in the Bible who hung in there when things got tough and never gave up. People like Joseph, King David and Daniel who trusted and waited upon the Lord, and He came through for them. We also need to encourage ourselves before Him by talking positive talks and affirmations before the Lord. Talks like:
Father I know that You are with me, that no matter what I’m going through You see me and understand me. I know that there is nothing I can hide from You. You know my heart, my mind, my thoughts and my desires. I thank You Jesus, that nothing is too hard with You. You are able to work all things out for my good. I am hoping in Your word to see me through. I am trusting in You Lord. I know You will come through for me because You love me and You care very much for me. You will not ever disappoint those that hope and trust in You. I hope and trust in You Lord. You are my help and my God.
God is a very merciful God, full of grace and compassion. He knows those who hope and trust in Him. He will not keep Himself back from extending His hand to anyone who cries and calls upon Him.
The LORD is gracious, and full of compassion; slow to anger, and of great mercy. {Psalm 145:8}
And call upon me in the day of trouble: I will deliver thee, and thou shalt glorify me. {Psalm 50:15}
For the eyes of the LORD run to and fro throughout the whole earth, to shew himself strong in the behalf of them whose heart is perfect toward him. {2 Chronicles 16:9}
If you have sinned and you feel that He’s not going to hear your prayers now because of your sins, it’s very simple: confess them to Him. Don’t be afraid. He already knows what you’ve done. There is nothing that we can hide from Him. So the sooner you confess your sins to the Lord the sooner you will feel better and have the confidence that He will hear your prayers.
It’s really that simple to find God’s favor, confess your sins to Him and He will hear your prayers. Don’t let the devil make you feel that your sins are greater than God’s love for you. That would be lacking faith in the power of the cross. Whenever we feel that our sins are too much for the Lord to forgive we’re actually sinning on top of sin. We are actually saying that His death at the cross isn’t enough to save us. That is a lie from the pits of hell. There is absolutely nothing that is greater than the cross. Nothing is greater than the precious blood that Jesus Christ has shed for us at Calvary. We are talking about God’s blood here, not just anyone’s, but God’s. The minute you believe that His blood can save you and that nothing is greater than His sacrifice for you, is the minute you will have victory over the principalities of this world. Calvary trumps everything we can ever face in this life. Nothing can come against Calvary. Nothing.
The Bible states:
If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. {1 John 1:9)
I acknowledged my sin unto thee, and mine iniquity have I not hid. I said, I will confess my transgressions unto the LORD; and thou forgavest the iniquity of my sin. Selah. {Psalm 32:5}
Don’t let your sins get in the way of your confidence in the Lord’s ability to save you. Get your sins out of the way and have faith in His love for you. Talk to Him and hope in His mercy, because He is very merciful. As He came through for Job, He will come through for you as well. He loves those that hope and wait for His salvation. He will not wait long. He will come through for you, just hang in there. As Job beautifully expressed it:
But he knoweth the way that I take: when he hath tried me, I shall come forth as gold. {Job 23:10}
Prayer
Thank You Father for Your love for us. Thank You, Jesus, with all of my heart for Your grace and Your truth in our lives today. We give You all the praise and all the glory.
We ask for Your grace and forgiveness for all of our sins Jesus. And we ask that You will strengthen our faith in Your love for us today, to believe in You that You are able to forgive us and to cleanse us from all our unrighteousness and hear our prayers. You will come through for us Savior, no matter what we’re going through because nothing is too hard with You. You know and understand where we are and what we’re going through today, and You will come through for us. You will not tarry long to save us, You will come through soon.
I pray that You will encourage us today Father to wait on You, in Your sweet and lovely name, Jesus. Thank You, Father. Amen.
