He knows the way that I take
by Margaret Silvester
5 December 2008
Next Day »I have recently plodded my way through the book of Job and, to be honest, I have not found it easy. I have, however, learned some wonderful lessons.
In the middle of his sufferings Job could confidently say, ‘He knows the way that I take. When he has tested me, I shall come forth as gold.’ Maybe this thread of hope kept him going. Everything had been stripped from him – family, home, health, wealth, reputation and the knowledge of the presence of the One who had once been close to him as an intimate friend (29:4). Job was left with a handful of false comforters who only brought him more heartache.
In despair he cried out, ‘And now my heart is broken, depression haunts my life’ (Job 30:16, NLB). Job was real. He owned life as it was. In no uncertain terms he told God what he felt - ‘God it’s your fault.’ Not knowing the involvement of Satan, Job ascribes his suffering directly to God and wants Him to answer the charge.
You may be able to identify with Job as you view your circumstances today. However, the God who revealed Himself in Jesus is not a God who wills his children to suffer. There are no easy answers to suffering, but we can be sure, ‘He knows the way that I take,’ and even if today you can’t sense His presence, He’s there beside you.
God doesn’t look on as a passive observer, far removed from our suffering. He doesn’t simply know about suffering, He has suffered Himself and knows what we are feeling. The cross where Jesus suffered is central to faith. God is not immune from our suffering. In Jesus He became one of us. He suffered Himself and knows what we are feeling.
Suffering itself is never good, but God can use it to our good. ‘God causes everything to work together for the good of those who love Him’(Romans 8:28). He can use suffering to take us into His bigger plan – one which, currently, may not be known to us. Can you say with Job, ‘He knows the way that I take?’
Prayer: Heavenly Father, even on the road marked with suffering help me to trust in Your unfailing love for me.
Margaret Silvester had a career as a teacher prior to being called into full time Christian Ministry with her husband, David, in 1986. They were involved in establishing a Healing Ministry in the local church and Margaret has a passion to see lost and wounded people found and restored. She and her husband joined the Ellel Ministries teaching and ministry team in 2000 after a clear call from God. Margaret`s book "Stepping Stones to the Father Heart of God" has recently been published.
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