“But if I go to the east, He is not there;
if I go to the west, I do not find Him.
When He is at work in the north, I do not see Him;
when He turns to the south, I catch no glimpse of Him.
But He knows the way that I take;
when He has tested me,
I will come forth as gold.”
Job 23: 8-10
Sometimes through the deep, dark valleys of this life, our hearts sink into despair and we may wonder – Does anyone see? Does anyone hear? Does anyone care? Does anyone know and understand my pain?
Job was a prosperous farmer in the land of Uz. He was wealthy and everything was going well for him. The Lord Himself said he was “blameless and upright, a man who fears God and shuns evil.” Satan told the Lord that it’s no wonder he fears God, because everything is going well for him. If God would take everything away from him, he would curse God. So God allowed Satan to test Job’s faith.
And so the devastation began. So heartbreaking that no one could endure it without God. Lone surviving servants came one after another to announce bitter losses. Serbians attacked and carried off all the oxen and donkeys and killed all but one servant with the sword. Fire fell from the sky and burned up the sheep and his servants. The Chaldeans carried away his camels and killed his servants.
Then came the biggest blow of all. His sons and daughters were feasting together when a mighty wind swept in and collapsed the house. All of his precious children gone in one blast!
Job got up and tore his robe, shaved his head, and sat in ashes. His heart was heavy with mourning. And yet He still fell to the ground in worship to God, “Naked came I from my mother’s womb, and naked I will depart. The Lord gave and the Lord hast taken away; may the name of the Lord be praised.” (Job 1:21)
Satan fumed about this and told God that if He struck Job’s own flesh and bones, he will surely curse Him. So Job was covered with painful sores over his entire body. He sat down in the ashes and scraped himself with broken pottery.
His precious children were killed. His livestock and most of his servants were all gone. And there he sat amid the ashes with painful boils covering his body. Humanly impossible to endure, right? Yet there’s more. His wife railed at him to curse God and die. And finally his close friends, though at first they wept with him, told him he must have done some sin to anger God, and God was punishing him because of it.
In extreme pain and unspeakable grief, he cursed the day he was born. His faith in God was sorely tested. He couldn’t help but feel God was against him – “The arrows of the Almighty are in me, my spirit drinks in their poison; God’s terrors are marshaled against me.” (Job 6:4) He cries, “He has demolished me on every side, and I am finished. He has uprooted my hope like a fallen tree.” (Job 19:10)
God’s terror against him. His hope uprooted. How utterly forsaken and abandoned he felt! He looked east, west, north, and south for God, but he couldn’t find Him. He could not hang onto what he knew of God’s faithfulness. He must have started to question himself, wondering if maybe he did do something wrong to stir up God’s anger against him.
But after nearly losing himself in his friends’ criticism and all the negative thoughts that stirred up, he rallied. He remembered who God really is, that His thoughts and ways are above ours. “BUT HE KNOWS the way that I take.” God knew every step he had taken. God knew he was in pain in body and spirit. And when some people do not, cannot, or will not understand, God always understands.
His trembling hand of faith reached forth and held onto his all-knowing and faithful God. He could leave all things into the hands of the GOD WHO KNOWS. He trusted in His infinite knowledge. He trusted God’s love and understanding. He trusted God had everything under control for his good. He even believed that after God had tested him, he would come forth as gold.
Are you suffering physically or emotionally? Do you feel forsaken? Do you feel misunderstood and alone? Do you have a hidden sadness?
BUT HE KNOWS! Yes, there is Someone who sees, who hears, who cares, who knows and understands. God knows all our ways. Not one pain in our hearts, no matter how deep and hidden it is to others, escapes His notice. He understands all our thoughts and troubles. He feels our pain so deeply that He aches for us and He weeps with us. Sometimes like Job we may get overwhelmed and can’t find Him, but He is always still here watching out for us.
Someday at the end of all the testing, God will not only just bring us through it, but we will come forth as gold. Glorious thought! He knows why He tests us, and He does it out of love for us, to honor us, to strengthen us, to make us better able to comfort those who are without comfort. (2 Cor. 1:4) His purpose is always for our good. God the Holy Spirit is transforming us into His image with ever-increasing glory (2 Cor. 3: 18).
Yes, no matter how deep and dark the valley is that you’re going through… GOD KNOWS. GOD CARES.
“I have told you these things,
so that in Me you may have peace.
In this world you will have trouble.
But take heart! I have overcome the world.”
John 16:33“For I know the plans I have for you,”
declares the LORD,
“plans to prosper you and not to harm you,
plans to give you hope and a future.”
Jeremiah 29:11“I consider that our present sufferings
are not worth comparing with the glory
that will be revealed in us.”
Romans 8:18
“Tears Are a Language God Understands” by Heritage Singers
Thank You, God, that
You know and You care!
Linking up with:
Holley – Coffee For Your Heart
Jennifer – Tell His Story
Kelly – Cheerleaders of Faith
Bonnie – Faith Barista’s Beloved Brews
Freed to Fly 
Trudy,
Yes, it makes all the difference to know God knows and HE understands like no one else can…it always boggles my mind when I think of all Job suffered…praying God continues to comfort you, my friend 🙂
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Thank you for your prayers, Dolly. I pray He will continue to comfort you as well. Yes, it surely does make all the difference to know God knows and understands. I just can’t imagine what it must have been like for Job to go through all he did. God held him in the palm of His hand, and He will hold us, too. Hugs!
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Trudy, I enjoyed looking at your site. Thank you for the sweet reminder, “God will not only just bring us through it, but we will come forth as gold. “
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Thank you, Deb. I’m glad you found strength in God’s promise. Praying that no matter what you go through in life, you will find peace in it! Hugs!
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Trudy, I wouldn’t mind betting that underneath the veneer many wear, all could attest to times when they would answer with yes to these questions:”Are you suffering physically or emotionally? Do you feel forsaken? Do you feel misunderstood and alone? Do you have a hidden sadness?” because such is the human condition. But praise be to God not only for the victory given for us to live as over-comers, but also have the reassurance of God’s continual loving and caring presence in and through the darkest of days!
Job suffered enormously, far more than most will ever go through in a lifetime. Yet his continued steadfast faith and unshakeable belief in God’s character and provision is so inspiring. I think his story is there to give us great hope that we can survive the worst that life may throw at us and even come out stronger in the midst of adversity if we trust in God to see us through and experience the ultimate comfort and consolation of knowing Him. Thank you for this thoughtful word, full of encouragement as always! I already see you shining bright as gold, my friend. Blessings and hugs to you. Xx 🙂
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Thank you for your kind words, Joy, and your perspective. Job’s story and God’s story through Job have often given me hope and the comfort that we will in the end grow stronger. Praying God is giving you strength in every way, especially as you are busier right now with company. Hugs!
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He Knows. There is so much comfort in those two words. You do a beautiful job of reminding us of that truth and how it changes everything about how we view our pain.
We are neighbors at TellHisStory and I am so glad we are. Loved being here today!
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Thank you, Christi. I’m so happy you found comfort in those two words – He Knows. I’m glad you stopped by! Your presence is always welcome. 🙂 Praying God will comfort you through whatever pain you go through in this life! Hugs!
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Trudy, what beautiful encouragement you shared! And the song blessed my spirit so much this morning. So happy to be your neighbor at Holley’s!
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Thank you, Stephanie. I’m so happy you were blessed. Yes, it’s such an uplifting song, isn’t it? God weeps along with us and collects all our tears into His bottle. Praying Jesus will wrap you in His loving arms and give you peace! Hugs!
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Trudy,
Job’s story brings such comfort that through it all, God is the master orchestrator of our lives and nothing escapes his notice! I often read through God’s response to Job’s questions because I leave with a greater awe of God and how he works in our lives, even when we don’t understand and can’t see it! Loved these reminders from you today! xoxo
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I’m so glad you loved the reminder, Valerie. I find such comfort in Job’s story, too. I am awed, too, by how God worked in Job’s life and how He works in ours. Yes, even when we don’t understand and can’t see it! His love is faithful! Praying God will further comfort you and give you peace and direction in your life! Hugs!
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Job’s story has always been so scary to me. Losing my children is my biggest fear so that part was definitely the most horrific to me. Thanks for this reminder that God was always there and brought Job joy and peace again in the end. Love this, my friend: “Yes, no matter how deep and dark the valley is that you’re going through… GOD KNOWS. GOD CARES.” I need to remember that always :).
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Losing even one of our children would be so devastating. I can’t even imagine losing all of them. Only God could get him through all that. Yes, God knows all your troubles and He cares so deeply about you, Candace! I need to remember that, too. 🙂 Praying God will hold you up and wrap you in His peace! Hugs!
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Yes, He knows! Those are powerful words!
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So true, Sarah! Praying the God who knows blesses you and keeps you! Hugs!
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Hi Trudy! The story of Job is so powerful, and I always am amazed at the utter uselessness of his
‘friends’. They come to sit with him, and then blame him for all his troubles. Yikes!
But God collects our tears, and we are so dear to Him that He will return double for our sadnesses. Remembering that in tough times isn’t always possible, but it’s still true. May God support and hold you in the palm of His hands, and bring you a double portion of grace for all that you have suffered.
Blessings to you,
Ceil
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Thank you so much for your loving prayers, Ceil. I appreciate it so much. Isn’t it just so amazing that God collects our tears? Not one of them is overlooked by Him! Praying God will support and hold you also in the palm of His hands and give you grace abundant! Hugs!
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