“ Pain will either come between you and God or bind you to
God. It’ s your choice.”
That was just the first chapter! Throughout the Book of Job things go from bad to worse. His friends turn against him. His own wife tells him to“ curse God and die”( she’ s a real encouragement). Job’ s life took a turn he never saw coming. This was more than a minor inconvenience; this was a series of lifealtering events that would steer Job down a whole new path. But in the end the detour brought him closer to God. At the very end of the book, Job says to God,“ My ears had heard of you, but now my eyes have seen you”( 42:5, NIV). Before this trial Job had heard of God. He had heard of His power and presence, but after this trial he had a firsthand encounter with God. He saw God.
Your Pain Can Push You Closer to God Pain can push you closer to God. But it can also push you away from God if you let it. The choice is yours. Instead of lying on the ground crying in bitterness, Job cried out to God. When you read the Book of Job, you see that he was full of emotions. At times he was angry with God, yelling at Him. Other times he yelled to God. But he didn’ t allow his pain to push him away from God. Pain will either come between you and God or bind you to God. It’ s your choice.
The verse that has always stood out to me from Job’ s story is found at the end of chapter 1:“ In all of this, Job did not sin by blaming God”( v. 22). Job did not blame God for the pain he faced. So often we do blame God. In our pain, we’ re prone to point our finger at God. Shake our fist toward heaven. Somehow accuse God for the trial we’ re going through. We indict Him for not caring, for not being there for us. But I’ ve learned that the presence of a problem does not mean the absence of my God. Just because I’ m facing a problem doesn’ t mean God is gone. I have found He is even closer in our pain. Psalm 34:18( NIV) reminds us,“ The Lord is close to the brokenhearted and saves those who are crushed in spirit.” God doesn’ t promise to protect us from our problems. He promises His presence in the middle of our problems. He will be with you no matter what you’ re facing.
“ Pain will either come between you and God or bind you to
God. It’ s your choice.”
Julie and I have faced many tough challenges through the years. At times I’ ve questioned why God was allowing this trial to happen to us. At first I allowed my doubts and pain to push me away from God, but that only left me feeling more hopeless and afraid. I needed God. I needed His strength and wisdom if I was going to make it on this detour. Psalm 46:1( NIV) says,“ God is our refuge and strength, an ever-present help in trouble.” When you’ re in trouble, God is“ ever-present”— always there. Let your pain push you closer to Him.
Your Pain Can Help Others Find God Not only can your pain push you closer to God, but it can help others find God. When you walk through a storm with a supernatural peace,
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