“Though dark be my way, since He is my Guide,
“Tis mine to obey, ’tis His to provide. . . .
By prayer let me wrestle and He will perform.
With Christ in the vessel I smile at the storm.”- John Newton, Begone Unbelief, Olney Hymns
As Timothy Keller concludes Chapter 14 of Walking with God through Pain and Suffering, he discusses how we, like Job, can get assurance of God’s love and acceptance in the midst of our suffering. No mater what our situation looks like to the world, we are loved and accepted by the only eyes that count. Describing Jesus as the ultimate Job, Pastor Keller compares/contrasts their suffering.
Job Jesus
1. relatively innocent 1. absolutely, perfectly innocent
2. naked, penniless, in physical pain 2. homeless, stripped naked, tortured on the cross
3. felt abandoned by God 3. absolutely abandoned by God
Pastor Keller emphasizes that Jesus bowed His head into the greatest storm- the storm of divine justice- so that we could hear God’s voice of love. We are not alone when we walk the path of suffering, as the author explains:
“. . . when you suffer without relief, when you feel absolutely alone you can know that, because he bore your sin, he will be with you. You can know you are walking the same path Jesus walked, so you are not alone- and that path is only taking you to him.”
Today’s question: At this point in your desert, land between time, how assured are you of love and acceptance by the only eyes (Jesus) that count? Please share.
Tomorrow’s blog: “The peace of God”
