STORMS DO NOT COME TO SWALLOW US BUT REDIRECT OUR FOCUS TO THE WILL, PLAN AND PURPOSES OF GOD
STORMS - uncontrolled CIRCUMSTANCES and SITUATIONS - may come not to DESTROY us, but to REDIRECT our FOCUS to the WILL, PLAN and PURPOSES of God. God did not plant us on Earth to workout our OWN WILL; that is why He did not give humanity the POWER to DIRECT own WAYS, though the greatest GIFT to man is VOLITION. KNOWLEDGE of God and His Christ is POWER and keep one RESOLUTE in the midst of STORM.
Job was so KNOWLEDGEABLE in the things of God but languished in PERPETUAL FEAR! Fear is TORMENT and UNACCEPTABLE in the life of every believer or Christian. “For the thing I greatly feared has come upon me, and what I dreaded has happened to me. I am not at ease, nor am I quiet; I have no rest, for trouble comes.” - Job 3:25-26. “Man?who is?born of woman is of few days and full of trouble.” - Job 14:1.
Job, with all the depth of KNOWLEDGE and UNDERSTANDING of God was shaken by STORMS he did not understand. IMPATIENCE in understanding CIRCUMSTANCES of the TIMES and SEASONS may land us in unrestrained MURMURINGS and COMPLAINTS! “For the thing I greatly feared has come upon me, and what I dreaded has happened to me. I am not at ease, nor am I quiet; I have no rest, for trouble comes.” - Job 3:25-26. “He has removed my brothers far from me, and my acquaintances are completely estranged from me. My relatives have failed, and my close friends have forgotten me.” - Job 19:13-14. “My breath is offensive to my wife, and I am repulsive to the children of my own body. Even young children despise me; I arise, and they speak against me. All my close friends abhor me, and those whom I love have turned against me.” - Job 19:17-19. “I am one mocked by his friends, who called on God, and He answered him, the just and blameless?who is?ridiculed.” - Job 12:4.
Friends and relatives LIVING in the FLESH may not UNDERSTAND your STORM, so will attempt to get you aligned to their MOULD. “If?one attempts a word with you, will you become weary? But who can withhold himself from speaking? Surely you have instructed many, and you have strengthened weak hands. Your words have upheld him who was stumbling, and you have strengthened the feeble knees; but now it comes upon you, and you are weary; it touches you, and you are troubled. Is?not your reverence your confidence? And the integrity of your ways your hope??Remember now, whoever?perished being innocent? Or where were the upright?ever?cut off?” - Job 4:2-7. “Call out now; is there anyone who will answer you? And to which of the holy ones will you turn?” - Job 5:1. “If you?were?pure and upright, surely now He would awake for you, and prosper your rightful dwelling place.” - Job 8:6.
Avoid men without UNDERSTANDING and MISERABLE COMFORTERS in the midst of STORM, and redirect FOCUS to the Author and Finisher of our FAITH, Christ Jesus. “These things I?have?spoken to you, that in Me you may?have peace. In the world you will?have tribulation; but be of good cheer, I?have?overcome the world.” - John 16:33 . “Do not fear any of those things which you are about to suffer. Indeed, the devil is about to throw?some of you into prison, that you may be tested, and you will?have?tribulation?ten days. Be faithful until death, and I will give you the crown of life. - Revelation 2:10 .
Your KNOWLEDGE and UNDERSTANDING of the Most High God and His Christ keep you RESOLUTE in the midst of STORM. ?“For I know?that?my?Redeemer?lives, and He shall stand at last on the earth.” - Job 19:25 . “If a man dies, shall he live?again? All the days of my hard service I will wait, till my change comes.” - Job 14:14. “Though He slay me, yet will I trust Him. Even so, I will defend my own ways before Him.” - Job 13:15. Then his wife said to him, “Do you still hold fast to your integrity? Curse God and die!” But he said to her, “You speak as one of the foolish women speaks. Shall we indeed accept good from God, and shall we not accept adversity?” In all this Job did not sin with his lips. - Job 2:9-10.
Let the DEVIL and DEMONS look foolish in your storm. “Then Job arose, tore his robe, and shaved his head; and he fell to the ground and worshiped.” - Job 1:20.
Let the FOOT of miserable comforters not come close to you, they will keep you in perpetual MISERY, PAIN and HURT. “What strength do I have, that I should hope? And what?is?my end, that I should prolong my life?” - Job 6:11. “My days are past, my?purposes are?broken?off,?even the thoughts of my heart.” - Job 17:11 . “Why is light given to him who is in misery, and life to the bitter of soul, who long for death, but it does not?come, and search for it more than hidden treasures.” - Job 3:20-21. “For now I would have lain still and been quiet, I would have been asleep; then I would have been at rest.” - Job 3:13
Job, for lack of proper understanding and appreciation of the circumstances of the time and season CONTENDED with God. God does not mind CONTENTION or DOUBT if it will draw a man closer to Him for REDIRECTION of FOCUS to His Will, Plan and Purposes. “Though He slay me, yet will I trust Him. Even so, I will defend my own ways before Him.” - Job 13:15. “If a man dies, shall he live?again? All the days of my hard service I will wait, till my change comes.” - Job 14:14. ?“For I know?that?my?Redeemer?lives, and He shall stand at last on the earth.” - Job 19:25 . Shalom.