I wanted to be sure I was not running and had not been running my race in vain. Galatians 2:2.

He calls his own sheep by name and leads them out. John 10:3.

Do you ever feel tired and wonder if you’re just spinning your wheels? I felt like that this morning. So many needs pulling and pushing in different directions. When I took that to God in prayer, He told me life goes on. Let it. Let it unfold. Stay with Me. And that resonated not just with family concerns but with my walk with God. Stay with God…don’t run ahead in vain. He leads me.

And now in Job 13 we hear Job’s scathing rebuke to his friends. When we try to help someone in pain and yet don’t understand the causes of the pain, our words don’t fit and can’t be heard. Have you ever experienced that? Someone is trying to help but they make it worse. If only you would be altogether silent! For you, that would be wisdom…Will you speak wickedly on God’s behalf? Will you speak deceitfully for him?…Would it turn out well if he examined you? v. 5, 7, 9. Reading Job’s words of frustration reminds me of me trying to make sense of anything and spiraling and drowning in the words I choose. It’s difficult to read because it feels like pieces of me are being torn off. I cringe with Now that I have prepared my case, I know I will be vindicated…How many wrongs and sins have I committed? Show me my offense and my sin…For you write down bitter things against me and make me reap the sins of my youth…v. 18, 23,26.

And then Job boldly says, Only grant me these two things, God, and then I will not hide from you: Withdraw your hand far from me, and stop frightening me with your terrors. Then summon me and I will answer, or let me speak, and you reply to me. v. 20-22. I have never felt that level of despair through trials I can’t even imagine enduring; yet many people have experienced trials and suffering too great to endure. Pain is real. Suffering is real.

It’s not that great a leap to think God, like Job’s friends, cannot begin to understand the pain Job is enduring without cause. Why else do we suffer? Stay with God. He knows. In this life is pain, suffering, cruelty, hurt. Grace and peace to you from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ, who gave himself for our sins to rescue us from the present evil age, according to the will of our God and Father, to whom be glory for ever and ever. Amen. Galatians 1:4-5. Why do you think Israel’s Messiah came the first time as He did? Why did He suffer and die and count it Joy? Because He knows. Stay with God. I am the good shepherd. I know my sheep and my sheep know me – just as the Father knows me and I know the Father – and I lay down my life for the sheep. I have other sheep that are not of this sheep pen. I must bring them also. They too will listen to my voice, and there shall be one flock and one shepherd. John 10:14-16. Stay with God. He loves and cares for us always and He is working for our good with Him for eternity.