Prayer? Pursuing Godliness? Doesn't that mean I'll live happily ever after? What about that guy Job? ⏤ Vol. 1 Chap. 33

"The LORD detests the sacrifice of the wicked, but he delights in the prayers of the upright.
The LORD detests the way of the wicked, but he loves those who pursue godliness. Proverbs 15:8,9 NLT ⏤ So what about Job?

I want to be a person that God delights in. I want to pursue God and I want to be a pray-er. But if I think that either of those will bring an easy life. I am going to be sorely disappointed.

Reading the above proverb we might assume that if God delights in us, or he loves us, we will automatically have an easier life. But what about Job?

Job was a praying man. Job pursued godliness. But Job had hardship.

There are many characters in the Bible that prove that life as a believer isn't an easy one. None is so clearly defined as a man after God's own heart as Job. And he got hit with some huge disasters. There is an entire book written on this man that was put into hardship BECAUSE he was such a man after God's own heart and followed the LORD.

I repeat this. Job went through horrible pain and disaster BECAUSE he was such a man after God's own heart. He loved God.

In our world today, we don't like the reality of this. We want to have our relationship with God to ensure everything go as planned. And unfortunately, some pastors even promise such lives.
But, this is not reality.

Kingdom living does not promise:

• that our lives will be easy
• that our lives will be prosperous
• that we will find love, wealth, and happiness.

Then why follow God?
Kingdom living does promise:

• that our lives will be meaningful. 
• that our lives will be filled with
  • God's help
  • God's guidance
  • God's presence
• And it does promise that our lives will be everlasting.

We can be in the most difficult situations and find ourselves trusting God, praising Him and living powerful lives. We can be filled with joy in the midst of disaster. We can. I know we can.
Because Job did. And I have.

Often through tears of pain and anguish we can know that we are in the great hand of God and He will see us through to the end.

Life with God means that we have an inner strength that no one can deny. By leaning into the words of God, by entering into prayer in our closet, by knowing that without question we are following what God wants us to do, we come out on the other side knowing we have been faithful and the trial is over.

We know we are not trying to just make it easier on ourselves. We want to be witnesses of the fullness of life in God.

Job was such a man. Did he question his situation? YES! And don't let anyone tell you that you can't.

God knows when we have questions and by pretending that we don't and blindly going through life with Him we have denied ourselves of one of the most powerful and substantial parts of being in relationship with Him.

I have questioned, cried, yelled, and even said a few curse words about the situations I have been placed in. And God has always listened. It is only when I question HIM that I find Him saying, "Who do you think you are to question me?"

For dear one, the truth is that whatever situation we are in, no matter good or bad, we are in it after it has been sifted through God's mighty and loving hands.

We ask instead:
1. Did I put myself into this situation because I made wrong choices? /then stop!
2. Am I trying to get out of a wrong situation by making another bad choice? /then don't!
3. Is God here with me in this monstrosity of a disaster? /trust that He is!
4. Will my sickness, struggle, heartache ever be over? /yes, it will!
5. Can I make a choice to trust that God is good and that if I am going through a situation I have not placed myself into because of wrong choices:

• I am either learning something,
• being a light for someone else,
• or standing firm against the evil one whom is testing me.

We are here on this earth for only a short time. Some shorter than others. But our timing is set and we are taking one day at a time either trusting, listening and moving forward into meaningful lives. Or we are living our lives for ourselves and our own desires.

One leads to eternal relationship with God. The other does not.
Death is much too present for us to deny its coming.
Eternity is just around the corner.
I will stand with Job and trust.
What about you?

Are you dealing with a choice that must be made? Are you wondering how you got here in the first place. Do you want the easy good life? You might find it, but it will be fleeting.
Are do you want the meaningful purposeful life?
Enter into his words, seek your prayer closet alone, and follow what He has given you clear guidance on not crossing any of his boundaries (those things he has clearly laid out in His word).

If you can testify to God coming in and strongly supporting you in a time of distress, please leave a note.

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