The Escape Key

Have you ever faced a situation in your life where the only thing you can think of is escape? Perhaps the loss of a loved one or a relationship, perhaps health concerns or financial woes. Maybe it was emotional, where the blackness just envelopes you and you can't see out.

Welcome to Job's world. Job had it all - lost his kids, his livelihood, and his health. Understandably, Job's emotions were pretty raw and dark. In Job 6:8 he says: "Oh that I might have my request, and that God would fulfill my hope, that it would please God to crush me, that he would let loose his hand and cut me off!"

But God didn't. In fact, the torment got worse thanks to the company of Job's friends and his wife who said "curse God and die!" And that's the thing. Throughout all of what Job went through, the one thing he never lost was his relationship with God, and it was that more than anything that brought him through.

In fact, God had no intention of granting Job's request, not out of meanness but out of love. God allowed Job to go through pain in order to help Job know him more. God wanted to Job to see that he was really nothing compared to the Lord. Once he knew that then God could bless him even more.

As difficult as it is to hear in the midst of great difficulty, escaping is not an answer, its a Band aid. Instead of escaping, hold on to the one thing you do have - a relationship with God through His Son Jesus. God knows suffering because He suffered for you. And He wants you to know Him more. In the process you will see that feeling sorry for ourselves doesn't cut it with God. Be open and naked before him. When all else is stripped away, let Him see the real you. It may not be pretty, but that's when He can really begin to cleanse, wash, purify, and bless you.

Pastor Tom