Daily Delight
Have you ever read something in the Bible and said, “Really, Lord? Why would You do that?”
Yeah, me too. In fact, I do that all. the. time.
But I especially do that when I read about Job. I usually read through his story, my heart in my throat- even though I already know how it ends- and I pray, “Why would You do this Lord? Why would you allow someone who You said, ‘…There is none like him on the earth, a blameless and upright man, who fears God and turns away from evil’ be tested so severely?” Job 1:8 (ESV).
Usually, I don’t get an answer. Instead, I end up feeling convicted for complaining about things I’m dealing with, when nothing compares to what Job went through.
Usually I close my Bible clinging to “You are God, and You are good”. Usually.
This time however, I sat there reading along with my study when I received not just one answer, but two.
The first was this: God allows the testing “in order to prove their faith… in some ways, their endurance proves the Lord’s boast in them”.
Now, I’m not a parent, but I am a child of parents who love to boast about their kids. And while my face turns a nice shade of rosey red as they boast on, I’ll have to admit, I know my parents are proud of me.
I’m guessing this is the exact same thing. Just imagine with me for a moment. You’ve been through something that was so incredibly difficult, but you didn’t give up. You pushed through, you kept fighting, you persevered. You didn’t take the easy way out, turn to things that wouldn’t help you in the long run. You followed Job’s example and refused to “curse God and die” (and I’d suggest getting some new friends if yours are telling you something similar to that) and now you’re stronger because of it. Your faith is stronger because of it.
Now imagine God looking at you and telling all the angels, “That’s My girl”.
His girl. And He’s proud of us. I don’t mean this to say that if we haven’t been through something big, or are currently going through something that He isn’t proud of us. But instead, I mean it to be an encouragement to you sweet friends.
To those heading into a storm, in the middle of a storm, or coming out of the storm- cling tight to Him. Keep His words close to your heart, and don’t give up. Know that He is right with you and is so incredibly proud of you. And this trial, this heartache, this storm is meant to make you stronger.
And the second lesson? Well, you’ll have to check back next week to learn all about that one!
I’m praying for you, sweet friends. That you would know how incredibly proud God is of His girls who fear Him and turn away from evil.
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Photo: @elissagram
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Janine Carattini
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Janine is a twenty-something, grace chasing, heart writing, Kingdom worker.
Her passion is to encourage others to relentlessly pursue after Jesus and to live lives filled with strength, dignity, and grace.
Born and raised in sunny Southern California, her goal is to love people unconditionally. When they ask her why, her answer is simply, "because Jesus asked me to".
Her desire is that by the way she lives her life, by what she writes, people will see Jesus.
You can find and follow her journey on relentlesspursuit.net
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