Help Is On the Way

 

 

A funny thing happened on my way through the Book of Job. The plight of a widowed mother of four living in Sri Lanka was brought to my attention. I was asked to send off a note to “encourage her in her suffering.” It just so happened that I was up to Job 5:11, and this in part, was the note I sent:

 

“The story of Job is instructive as it relates to our sufferings here on earth. Job lost everything….including his good health. All ten of his children were killed in a windstorm, all his cattle, and crops were destroyed by raiders. Things were so bleak for him that his wife told him to curse God and die.

Three of Job’s friends came to his side to comfort him in his affliction, but they just made matters worse, telling Job that he must’ve sinned to have that kind of affliction in his life.  In spite of their bad advice, they did pass along some truths concerning affliction.

One of Job’s friends (Eliphaz) said this about God in  Job 5:11 “He sets on high those who are lowly, And those who mourn are lifted to safety.”  In other words, God sees our afflictions and help is on the way. If not in this life, then the next, and so we learn to persevere in our troubles.

We have the hope of the poor beggar Lazarus, whom Jesus told us about in Lu 16:19-25,  "There was a certain rich man who was clothed in purple and fine linen and fared sumptuously every day. 20 "But there was a certain beggar named Lazarus, full of sores, who was laid at his gate, 21 "desiring to be fed with the crumbs which fell from the rich man's table. Moreover the dogs came and licked his sores. 22 "So it was that the beggar died, and was carried by the angels to Abraham's bosom. The rich man also died and was buried. 23 "And being in torments in Hades, he lifted up his eyes and saw Abraham afar off, and Lazarus in his bosom. 24 "Then he cried and said, 'Father Abraham, have mercy on me, and send Lazarus that he may dip the tip of his finger in water and cool my tongue; for I am tormented in this flame.' 25 "But Abraham said, 'Son, remember that in your lifetime you received your good things, and likewise Lazarus evil things; but now he is comforted and you are tormented

Eventually, the beggar’s relief came and the words of  Ps 113:7 rang true! “He (God) raises the poor out of the dust, And lifts the needy out of the ash heap,”

 

Help is on the way beloved! Persevere! Your afflictions are working on your behalf to produce EXCEEDING GLORY! 2Co 4:17 reminds us: “For our light affliction, which is but for a moment, is working for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory,”

I hope that note helped encourage that widow in Sri Lanka, I know that scripture from 2 Cor 4:17 helps me as I recover from the effects of Covid. Just think, “Far more exceeding and weighty glory is on the way for all God’s enduring children!”