Suffering with hope

Job 14:14-17 If mortals die, can they live again? This thought would give me hope, and through my struggle I would eagerly wait for release. You would call and I would answer, and you would yearn for me, your handiwork. For, then you would count my steps, instead of watching for my sins. My sins would be sealed in a pouch, and you would cover over my iniquity.

Job was overwhelmed by his troubles. He was miserable. His sufferings dominated his life. His friends were no help to him at all. In fact, they only made things worse for they were judging him for his struggles instead of comforting him through them.

The one thing that helped Job is hope. Job was able to endure his sufferings because he believed that there was much more to life than his present sufferings. He believed that even if he were to die in his sufferings, it would be worth it all because he would see God and be with Him.

We cannot predict or control our sufferings. They come without regard to who we are. They come in varied degrees. Some of us suffer a lot, some far less. No amount of self-will can make them go away. What matters is how we handle ourselves when they come.

As children of God we have hope. We understand that this life is not the end of the story. Our lives may fall apart and rot away, but we have hope. No matter what we may have to deal with in this life, we have eternal life with Christ on the other side of our lives. No amount of suffering can take our hope away from us. We have God’s guarantee that better days are ahead for us.

Dear friend, don’t give up; don’t buckle underneath the heavy load of suffering. Keep your eyes fixed on Jesus. He is the author of our salvation and He is the finisher of it. He has in store for you a life that is beyond your ability to comprehend in its glory. The life that waits for you in heaven is pure, without sin and any of its side effects on life. This life is a joyous life without any suffering or pain. It is an eternal life of celebration of life in God.

Look up, dear friend, it is worth it all. Someday soon we shall see Jesus!