Inside Out

Have you ever felt like God’s not there, or He’s not listening? I have felt this more than I would like to admit. I wonder if Job may have felt that God wasn’t hearing him either when I read his petition in Job 23: 

He says “Even today my complaint is bitter; his hand is heavy in spite of my groaning. If only I knew where to find him; if only I could go to his dwelling! I would state my case before him and fill my mouth with arguments. I would find out what he would answer me, and consider what he would say to me. Would he vigorously oppose me? No, he would not press charges against me. There the upright can establish their innocence before him, and there I would be delivered forever from my judge. “But if I go to the east, he is not there; if I go to the west, I do not find him. When he is at work in the north, I do not see him; when he turns to the south, I catch no glimpse of him. But he knows the way that I take; when he has tested me, I will come forth as gold.

If God tested us, would we come out as pure gold? Sometimes we are looking for Him, and He is right there waiting to see what we will do next. So often, I’ve looked to God for answers, and I realize that He was waiting on me to trust in Him!

When I met my husband, I didn’t question God; I just knew that God was in this union without a shadow of a doubt. However, in other areas of my life, I am constantly questioning my moves and if God wants me to do this or that. When times get scary, and things get rough, it is hard for us to trust God sometimes, but as believers, we have the Holy Spirit living inside us! God is always the answer, and we have the answer living in us! How cool is that?

Job was in a place where he wanted to state his case before God so the suffering might end. He didn’t know how his story would encourage us and help us through difficult situations so many years later. We are thankful for Job’s suffering because it helps us deal with our own. It helps us understand the character of the God we serve. 

Today if you are struggling with finding God for an answer to life’s problems, look to the Holy Spirit within you. He will guide you. Trust whose you are and know that He is not gone, but sometimes the teacher is silent during the test.

Father, thank you for your Spirit. Thank you for guiding us and hearing our prayers. When we stumble, help us trust in Your plan, especially when the timing doesn’t align with our own! In Jesus’ name. Amen. 

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Scripture is quoted from THE HOLY BIBLE, NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION®, NIV® Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.