The tighter you hold onto material things in this life, the more pain you experience. The lighter you hold onto them the less pain when it comes to loss. Naked we came into this world and naked we’re leaving.
“The man Job was well off and blessed with property, family of many children, cattle, and good health. Suddenly the rug was pulled out from underneath him. Job feared God and lived a life of right living, yet he faced a mountain of challenges and crises. When he was tested God allowed this to prove to Satan that his servant will remain faithful.
“Now there was a day when the sons of God came to present themselves before the Lord, and Satan also came among them. The Lord said to Satan, “From where do you come?” Then Satan answered the Lord and said, “From roaming about on the earth and walking around on it.” The Lord said to Satan, “Have you considered My servant Job? For there is no one like him on the earth, a blameless and upright man, fearing God and turning away from evil.” Then Satan answered the Lord, “Does Job fear God for nothing? Have You not made a hedge about him and his house and all that he has, on every side? You have blessed the work of his hands, and his possessions have increased in the land. But put forth Your hand now and touch all that he has; he will surely curse You to Your face.” Then the Lord said to Satan, “Behold, all that he has is in your power, only do not put forth your hand on him.” So Satan departed from the presence of the Lord”. Job 1:6-12
https://bible.com/bible/100/job.1.6-12.NASB1995
Notice God is soveriegn and still in control even when we think our world has caved in. God will test you, but He does not tempt you. Satan and his cohorts are pesty and persistent to try to lead you astray from serving and loving God.
Losses in our lives can cost us great pain and suffering. If all we live for is money, material things, status, titles, sports, work, pleasure, etc. We will come up empty. Looking for the next fix to fill the void in our lives. Health is very important to everyone of us, yet we struggle to stay fit. Especially as we age, yet many struggle.
Notice Satan was arrogant toward God with his dialog with Him over Job.
” Job will curse you to your face if you take all this away from him!” God allowed Satan to prove him wrong.
Personally, I do not like suffering or seeing others experience losses, yet there is a meaning and purpose for it. Is God being glorified in the suffering? Yes, the fall of man, sin has caused a lot of suffering in the beginning of creation and man’s fall. Pain, losses, death, grief, suffering does hurt, but know that God hears your cries and sees your pain.
The greater temptation, was to abandon God because of the crisis. Job stayed the course, but it wasn’t easy. His wife abandoned him saying, “curse God and die!”. His so called close friends turned on him.
Yet Job in his life quotes, “Though he slay me. Yes will I trust Him”! or I will hope in Him. What confidence, what hope, what assurance.
Paul knew to well of struggles and suffering, yet his perspective was always hope and deliverance. 2 Corinthians 4:8-11 NIV
“We are hard pressed on every side, but not crushed; perplexed, but not in despair; persecuted, but not abandoned; struck down, but not destroyed. We always carry around in our body the death of Jesus, so that the life of Jesus may also be revealed in our body. For we who are alive are always being given over to death for Jesus’ sake, so that his life may also be revealed in our mortal body.”
https://bible.com/bible/111/2co.4.8-11.NIV
Notice what Paul writes in the book of Romans 8:28-29.
“And we know that God causes all things to work together for good to those who love God, to those who are called according to His purpose. For those whom He foreknew, He also predestined to become conformed to the image of His Son, so that He would be the firstborn among many brethren.”
https://bible.com/bible/100/rom.8.28-29.NASB1995
The tighter we hold on to things in this life the more pain in the loss. The lighter we hold onto things, knowing, trusting, believing God is in control and ALL things are according to His purpose, we will have a better perspective even when the situation looks grim.
My friend I encourage you to be patient, and allow whatever you, or your family, friends, are facing to release it, and let it go, because God knows and He sees what you are facing.
May your day and week be filled with hope and peace in Jesus’s name. 💙
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