"What? Shall we receive good at the hand of God, and shall we not receive evil?" Job 2:1-10      

Not many people have gone through trials and suffering like Job did. He had lost his ten children and all his possessions. He was afflicted with a dreadful disease. His sufferings were so great that his wife, who lacked the faith and endurance of her husband, suggested that he commit suicide. It was then that Job asked: "What? shall we receive good at the hand of  God, and shall we not receive evil?"      

The problem of suffering troubles many of us today. We ask: "How can a good and gracious God permit such suffering for days and weeks, and often a lifetime, as we see in the case of many loved ones and friends?"  Satan uses every means to encourage us in such thoughts, for he wants us to despair of the mercy of God and to lose our faith. When we suffer, let us remember the comforting words of our God: "My thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways My ways, saith the LORD. For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are My ways higher than your ways, and My thoughts than your thoughts." Is. 55:8,9.  Another one is: "I know the thought that I think toward you, saith the LORD, thoughts of grace, and not of evil, to give you an expected end" Jer. 29:11.      

Christian friends, Suffering is never pleasant, but as children of God we know that it is for our good and that God gives us the strength to bear it. another verse is: "Whom the LORD loveth, He chasteneth" Heb. 12:6. When we stop saying; "Why me?" and start saying, "Why not me?" we take the first step to glorifying God in our trials.  

Be this the purpose of my soul, My solemn, my determined choice; To yield to God's supreme control And in my every trial rejoice.    

THOUGHT FOR THE DAY- Afflections become blessings when blended with acceptance.