“The Lord is near to all who call on him, to all who call on him in truth.” (Psalm 145:18) We are apt to think that God is far off when we are in the midst of our trial. Trials and tests can be a lonely space to navigate. Yet, we should be encouraged because the same God that inhabits our praise is the same God that is in the midst of our pain and sorrow. Oh yes, he is a God that is with us, never an abandonment, and never leaves our side. This understanding of the nearness and activated presence of God helps us to be patient as we trust Him for our deliverance. We know that it is inevitable. Here are just a few scriptures that highlight the nearness of God: “Let your reasonableness be known to everyone. The Lord is at hand; do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.” (Philippians 4:5-7) “That they should seek God, in the hope that they might feel their way toward him and find him. Yet he is actually not far from each one of us.” (Acts 17:27) “Draw near to God, and he will draw near to you.” (James 4:8) One of our greatest examples of a man who understood that his God was near, is Job. He also understood his providence. Therefore, he could exercise patience. James 5:11 - “You have heard of the patience of Job,” [KJV] “and have seen what the Lord finally brought about. The Lord is full of compassion and mercy.” The traces of imperfection which we see in Job prove all the more powerfully that grace can make great examples out of common persons, and that experiencing feelings of resentment under apparent injustice need not prevent a person from becoming a model of patience. I am thankful that I know that Job did in fact speak somewhat bitterly, and proved himself a common man, for now I know that it was a man like myself who said, “The LORD gave and the LORD has taken away; may the name of the LORD be praised” [Job 1:21]. It was a man of flesh and blood, such as mine, who said, “Shall we accept good from God, and not trouble?” [Job 2:10]. Yes, it was a man of similar passions that we have who said, “Though he slay me, yet will I hope in him” [Job 13:15]. You have heard of the patience of your Lord and Master, and tried to copy it, and half despaired; but now you have heard of the patience of his servant Job, and knowing as Job did that, your Redeemer lives, you should be encouraged to emulate him in obedient submission to the will of the Lord. Charles Spurgeon Job illustrated for us that, even in our weakness, God is strong. Why should we worry or be overly concerned when we serve a God that is all knowing and is everywhere. Therefore, no matter what it is that we face today, we must place our hope in ‘Immanu El (‘with us is God’)” (Isaiah 7:14). GiGi❤️
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