Seasons of Job

We all go through seasons of Job.

Seasons of intense suffering.

Seasons of wondering where our Healer is.

Seasons of feeling angry at the entire world.

Seasons of questioning every ounce of our

faith.

Seasons of letting the jealousy of others'

happiness overcome us.

Seasons of crying out to God asking how on

Earth this could possibly be part of His plan

for us.

We all go through seasons of coming to a crossroads with our faith. Questioning whether we continue to put one foot forward and keep crawling toward the cross, and if the journey is truly worth all the pain and suffering.

But, sometimes?

Sometimes, God has to let us break

to piece us back together again.

Sometimes, God has to allow our layers

to peel back, exposing our hearts to His

miraculously healing hands.

Raw.

Vulnerable.

Uncomfortable.

Exhausted and broken.

We never choose to break, you know?

But, amidst each of our lives, more than once,

we all find ourselves at the point of cracking...

...shattered...

...splintered...

...crushed...

...fragmented...

...defeated...

Sometimes, we feel as though God has tossed us into a pile of ashes, leaving for ruins. Sometimes, we feel as though God has knocked us right off our feet, face-first, onto the earth's dust below. Sometimes, we feel as though God has completely crushed us, into an infinite amount of pieces.

Sometimes, there is no way around the storm. Sometimes, He just has to let us cry and push through the pain and heartache.

Sometimes, He simply has to let us break.

And when suffering enters into our lives?

We have to trust that God has purposed it

to help us in some way.

It feels almost impossible to muster the words,

“Thank you, God, for my lost job.

My miscarriage. My broken relationship.

My lost loved-one. This unexpected and devastating mountain standing before me."

Everyone suffers in this life.

Some suffer far more than others.

Yet, in there pain and suffering, there are good moments. And we can let them slip by, or we can cling to them.

Because even this—even the pain and suffering that you are experiencing this very moment—is part of His plan.

For, God?

He won’t let us shatter; break; or fall to pieces, without a plan to pull the beauty back from our ashes.

Keep your feet on the ground.

Keep your heart in Heaven.

Give Him your weakness, and watch Him do amazing things. Slowly allow your weary heart to quietly whisper...

"Thank you God for my moments of suffering, because even though I feel completely lost and completely unaware of your plans, I trust You. I trust You."

Does certain pain ever go away?

Maybe it’s not supposed to.

All we can do is have faith that

God will give us the strength to carry on.

Because, when suffering enters into our lives, we have two choices:

Use it as fuel for anger, resentment and defeat. Or use our pain as fuel for gratitude, drawing closer to God and a stronger faith.

And, we can look to the cross for our reminder of that. For, Jesus Christ absorbed all the suffering and evil in the world so we could one day live without any of it. His death and then victory in His resurrection gives us the strength we need to conquer it too.

Job's story doesn't end in sorrow, pity and a withered life. Job gets it all back at the end.

And so much more. He is blessed abundantly and beyond measure. He subsequently learns to thank God for every little thing in life--good, bad, amazing, hard, painful and over-joyous.

If you are in a season of Job, never forget...

…it is okay to let yourself break into an infinite amount of pieces.

Take that deep breath and remember to give it all to Him—in prayer, through streams of endless tears, with a broken heart—and He will make you whole again. For, there aren't many things in this life, greater than hope. (Job 11:18)

"Behold, God is mighty, and does not despise any; He is mighty in strength of understanding." (Job 36:5)

"You clothed me with skin and flesh, and knit me together with bones and sinews. You have granted me life and steadfast love, and Your care has preserved my spirit" (Job 10:11-12)

"Agree with God, and be at peace, thereby good will come to you. Receive instruction from His mouth, and lay up His words in your heart." (Job 22: 21-22)

"Then Job answered the Lord and said: 'I know that you can do all things, and that no purpose of Yours can be thwarted.' " (Job 42: 1-2)