The Life of Job
I am always inspired by the stories of people of great faith. People like Job in the Old Testament. He literally lost everything. His family. His friends. His possessions. He literally lost everything, but still he remained faithful to God.
More modern examples of great faith that challenge me are people like Corrie ten Boom. In her book, "The Hiding Place" she shares her story. Because she and her family helped Jews during World War II, they ended up in a hard labor concentration camp. Stripped of every worldly possession, she used the time spent in this horrible place to point people to the saving knowledge of Jesus. She said, "Every experience God gives us, every person He puts into our lives, is the perfect preparation for a future only He can see." She remained faithful.
Joni Eareckson Tada was a young woman at the prime of her life. A freak diving accident left her a quadriplegic. But through unimaginable pain and suffering, she became a world renowned artist (painting with her mouth) - - and remained faithful.
Now even though I have drawn inspiration from these people, I have wanted to stay far away from their experiences. But the past few months, I have felt a lot like Job and Corrie and Joni (or the subject of a bad country song).
At the end of September, I was sexually assaulted. The physical, emotional and spiritual anguish have been overwhelming. Because of the attack, I had to have surgery and have had some complications from that during the healing process. I had a cold, that turned into bronchitis, that turned into pneumonia. I lost my job. My dog ran away (and still has not been found). My garage was crushed by a giant tree. My car needed repairs that totalled near $1,000. Can you see my country song reference?
During these past months, I have to say that I have not been that faithful. I have been selfish, and whiny, with a "why me?" crybaby attitude. When is it going to be enough? What is enough? I felt like I was nearing my breaking point. One evening, looking through my journal (where I write out my prayers) never once had I asked the Lord for His help. Never once did I ask Him for His mercy or His grace in my situation. Even in my prayers I was selfish and whiny!
I repented of my whining. I asked the Lord help me through everything that I was going through. I asked Him, what is enough? I was reminded that Jesus is enough.
II Corinthians 12:9 says, "My grace is sufficient for you, for My strength is made perfect in weakness." Maybe in all of this, He was trying to get my attention. Maybe instead of focusing on me and my situation, however bad it seemed, He wanted me to focus on Him. I'm not saying He made any of these things happen. But He allowed them to happen to see if I would remain faithful. It took me a while to get the message, but I KNOW His grace is enough...He is enough...and He has promised to see me through.
More modern examples of great faith that challenge me are people like Corrie ten Boom. In her book, "The Hiding Place" she shares her story. Because she and her family helped Jews during World War II, they ended up in a hard labor concentration camp. Stripped of every worldly possession, she used the time spent in this horrible place to point people to the saving knowledge of Jesus. She said, "Every experience God gives us, every person He puts into our lives, is the perfect preparation for a future only He can see." She remained faithful.
Now even though I have drawn inspiration from these people, I have wanted to stay far away from their experiences. But the past few months, I have felt a lot like Job and Corrie and Joni (or the subject of a bad country song).
At the end of September, I was sexually assaulted. The physical, emotional and spiritual anguish have been overwhelming. Because of the attack, I had to have surgery and have had some complications from that during the healing process. I had a cold, that turned into bronchitis, that turned into pneumonia. I lost my job. My dog ran away (and still has not been found). My garage was crushed by a giant tree. My car needed repairs that totalled near $1,000. Can you see my country song reference?
During these past months, I have to say that I have not been that faithful. I have been selfish, and whiny, with a "why me?" crybaby attitude. When is it going to be enough? What is enough? I felt like I was nearing my breaking point. One evening, looking through my journal (where I write out my prayers) never once had I asked the Lord for His help. Never once did I ask Him for His mercy or His grace in my situation. Even in my prayers I was selfish and whiny!
I repented of my whining. I asked the Lord help me through everything that I was going through. I asked Him, what is enough? I was reminded that Jesus is enough.
II Corinthians 12:9 says, "My grace is sufficient for you, for My strength is made perfect in weakness." Maybe in all of this, He was trying to get my attention. Maybe instead of focusing on me and my situation, however bad it seemed, He wanted me to focus on Him. I'm not saying He made any of these things happen. But He allowed them to happen to see if I would remain faithful. It took me a while to get the message, but I KNOW His grace is enough...He is enough...and He has promised to see me through.
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