Loading... Job 23:6 - STRENGTH IN ME
Thursday, February 25th, 2010
Job 23:6 Will he plead against me with his great power? No; but he would put strength in me.
In this passage, Job reminds us that God has great power. Job is assuring himself that God does not use his great power to make his life miserable. Instead, Job is focused upon the fact that it is that great power from God that gives him the strength to endure the trial that he is in.
Wait a minute you say. You agree that God has great power, but God could have used that power to stop Satan from taking away everything that Job held onto dearly. You might try to argue that by not using his power to stop Satan, God basically used his power to cause Job great misery.
We must understand that God works everything together for good for those who love him and are called according to HIS purpose. What we often see as a trial and a bad thing, God often is using to draw us closer to HIM and make us in HIS own image.
We understand that a diamond in its natural state is not worth very much. However, with a careful hand and much chipping away, a diamond can become very valuable. If the diamond had its way, do you think it would allow someone to chip away at it? The diamond must suffer the trials of having its faults cut away so that it can be valuable to the owner.
In the same way that a diamond must go through the trials so also, the loving hand of God is working on us so that we might be valuable in HIS sight. No one likes the trials of God, but that does not mean that God is out to get you. God is using HIS strength to make you better by removing from your life those things that diminish your effectiveness for HIM.
Remember Peter, the man who denied Jesus three times. Peter had been faithful to Jesus for three years. Jesus knew that Peter was vulnerable and could deny HIM. Jesus could have arranged circumstances so Peter did not find himself in a position where he felt his life was threatened if he acknowledged that he was a follower of Jesus. However, Jesus allowed Peter to face his trial and then later, Jesus used HIS love to restore Peter. Peter later had great boldness for the cause of Christ to the point that he was not afraid to die.
Remember Daniel, when he first arrived in Babylon, they put food in front of him that he was taught was not proper to eat. Daniel did not need this trial right from the very beginning. However, Daniel remained true to God during this trial and we later see that God used Daniel in a mighty way.
Bad things will happen to you during your lifetime. During your life, you will face trials that will seem to big for you. Rather than focus your attention upon the problem, learn to turn your eyes to God and learn to rely upon HIM to direct your paths. God’s strength is sufficient for you. Christ had given Peter the opportunity to pray with HIM in the Garden so as to increase his strength, but Peter chose to sleep and he yielded to temptation.
The strength of God can give you the victory over any temptation. Be patient with God and when you feel tired and desire to yield to sin, stop and learn to lean on the everlasting arms of God. God will never leave you nor forsake you. God is with you during your greatest trials. God does not allow you to face a trial that you are not able to endure. Remember that if you focus upon GOD, HE will direct your paths and enable you to do great things for HIM. Do not blame God for your problems, instead, use the strength of God to overcome your problems.