Does God Listen?

Even today my complaint is rebellion; his hand is heavy despite my groaning.
"Oh that I knew where I might find Him, that I might come to His seat!
"I would present my case before Him and fill my mouth with arguments.
"I would learn the words which He would answer, and perceive what He would say to me.
JOB 23:2-5

Do you ever wonder if God listens to us? Does he ever hear our prayers and requests? Sometimes we feel that he does not because we do not get our way.

Job, in the passage above cries out to our heavenly father. Not because he feels that God is not near him, but in spite of all that has happened to him he cries out proclaiming his love for God. Could you go through what Job did? He lost his children, his wife, his wealth, and his health, and yet not once did he stop proclaiming his love for God. As we all know God was pleased with Job and blessed him with many earthly treasures. Satan made a bet with God that if he took everything from him, and all of Job’s earthly treasures he would turn on God. We know that Job never let his faith falter, yes he questioned God as to why he made him suffer but in the end he knew it was for God’s purpose, and he would not question God’s reasons.

How would you and I react in a similar situation? I would like to think that I would be as strong as Job, but I don’t believe I could. What strength he had, what a faith!

How would we feel if everything was taken away from us and were made to suffer the pains and agony that Job did to find out it was over a bet? Would we be angry? Would be spiteful? Yes I believe we would, at least at first we would.

We need to stop and take a moment to consider all that God has done for us. He has created a beautiful world for us, and he has made it possible for life to live on this planet. Consider all the planets in the Solar system, and yet ours is in perfect balance to sustain life it is not by chance that has happened. No the great creator, and the author of life has done that. Then he breathed life into each and every one of us to live our life to the best of our ability.

When the evil one introduced sin to tempt us, and separate us from him he sent his son to suffer the agony, and pain, and embarrassment of crucifixion. His Son endured this pain for us, and all the while proclaimed God as ruler and king of Earth.

So again I ask you would we be able to act as Job did when all was taken from him over a bet. After considering what God has done for me I say Yes, Emphatically Yes!

I ask you to remember the next time hardship befalls you, and you question God’s reasons that there is a purpose, and it is his purpose. He will show us the reason in his time not ours, and know that every time you reach out to him he is there arms outstretched waiting to comfort you, and protect you. He will never leave you, and when you are at your lowest it is at that time he lifts you up and carries you.

I know that at times it seems we can no longer carry the burden. Remember that he never gives us more than we can handle. Trust in God, and trust in our risen savior Jesus Christ, and trust that on the Day of Judgment we will all be in paradise with our heavenly father..

God Bless your week.