Distance in Marriage

“Missing someone can hurt. But when you know they are yours forever, negativity it helps avert.” ― Trishna Damodar

Looking back, I can't say that I was like most young girls who dreamt of a white fairytale wedding; who saw themselves in a wedding gown and envisioned every detail down to the style of shoe and beadings on their veil. Me, I was dreaming of how to be a pirate (yes, you read that right) after hours playing in my grandfather's yard, atop lumber and sitting on the highest limb of the mango tree that took root in the centre of the pile, with my feet dangling below as my eyeball pierced through my make-shift telescope, I wanted to be a pirate like all the one's I learnt of during my Social Studies lessons.

I dreamt of many things. Becoming an author, a veterinarian, a world-renowned chef who served the meanest burger with a scarlet/hog-plum glaze that was to die for. So imagine how I must have felt after not having some dream to draw inspiration from after my engagement last year. I was ECSTATIC! to say the least; I got to dream of how I wanted my wedding to be and to share in the planning experience with the love of my life. The process was fun, challenging and amazing and the day was nothing short of a fairytale.

Now that we've been married for a month, we have been dealing with our first challenge. Just like everything else in my life-far from traditional-I find myself writing this tearful because I'm missing my husband. The week before our wedding, Abaco and Grand Bahama experienced the monster storm Dorian. That was the first challenge. Talk about a faith builder. I'll discuss more of this in a subsequent post. But it was truly a test that I believe prepared A and myself for what was to come next.

For most persons,  things appear to fall into place instantly post wedding day; you know, fly away to the lovely honeymoon, return to a cozy residence and commence life as newlyweds with all of the challenges that come with that. For me however, distance now stands between us, and our honeymoon has been delayed.  But we're delighted in the fact that God remained faithful through it all.

Distance isn't something that we're new to. Far from it, but this for some reason is now different. The longing to be together more than ever, to experience new eateries, sunsets, day trips and grocery shopping (yeah we're cheesy that way) are just more pressing. Maybe it's because I'm more aware of my age now or maybe because of hurricane Dorian and the fact that time is short and spending as much time with those we love while we can is vital.

 It's times when trials arise and we're apart facing the giants together through prayer, countless video and voice calls, texts and even emails that I'm reassured that things will work out how they're supposed to when they're supposed, and then it hits me; "Remember when you prayed for patience and lessons that will help with my transformation into a more patient, virtuous woman," hmmm...now, I'm learning to be sure to add a disclaimer with my prayers "whatever way you see fit to teach me this lesson, make me strong to endure the test."

Although, I'm tearful, I'm also comforted in knowing that I'm not alone during this time. My family has been so supportive. As curious and concerned as everyone is as to when we'll both be in once place comfortably, it's annoying and irritating because WE DON'T KNOW! and sometimes not knowing is okay. It strengthens our faith because now our next move is solely dependant upon God's guidance.

I would be lying if I were to say we're fine; because we're not. We're wanting to be together more than ever, but we're doing our best to make the most of our current situation because this IS NOT permanent. It's exciting to know that there are options however daunting they may be, but we must be patient. This is the lesson and we're learning to be just that.


Are you facing a challenge or difficulty as a newlywed? Have you experienced long-distance at any point in your marriage? How did you cope? I'd be glad to hear your story, if you're willing to share. 

There will be future posts related to my wedding and how we planned it during my internship years and all the do's and don'ts I picked up along the way. Be sure to sign up for email notifications if you haven't done so already.

Called to Succeed

“He who has a why to live for can bear almost any how.” ― Friedrich Nietzsche

Recently I've found myself in an unusual position-STUCK IN LIMBO! As this process is unfolding and teaching me patience, I am caught continuously asking myself "Cara, what is it that God is calling you to do in this season?"

As a not so new medical school graduate, working on a research project and waiting for the next move, I am surprised at the existence of such a mediocre, backward-thinking healthcare system that is sadly, crumbling from the top down. Can you picture the travesty? It is under these working conditions over the last year that I have found myself more compelled to re-evaluate my calling and the path to get there.

My mind finds its way to this quarter's Sabbath school lesson-exploring the lives of Ezra and Nehemiah and how God called each man to a specific task and how they responded. Prior to this, each man had to do several things in order to succeed at their calling.

Preparing For Your Calling

1. PREPARATION

Ezra 7:10: Ezra had prepared his heart to seek the Lord prior to embarking on his calling. This is vital in any avenue of life. By preparing our hearts we not only dedicate ourselves to the task at hand, but we mentally prepare ourselves to whatever it takes to execute it. Seeking the Lord before any task is always important, as the best council we can receive is that from the Lord, for He knows the plans He has for our lives; he wants to be apart of all of our decisions because He wants nothing more for us than to see us succeed. 

2. FAST & PRAY

Nehemiah 1:1-11: Fasting is something I am still getting use to. It seems that the minute your mind is made up to fast and pray so that you would be able to hear God speak, is when you have everything in the world to do and there's everything you were craving now at your finger tips. 

There are all sorts of material on how to fast and the different types of fasts that you can do, but the best way is to start small. Fasting from social media for a certain amount of time each day or each evening, or to refrain from consuming certain drinks or food products until you're able to do full day fasts. 

The benefits of fasting are extensive, but as we can see from the story of Nehemiah, when he fasted and prayed, he made all of his requests known to God and he not only made God aware of his plans, but he petitioned the throne of grace on behalf of the brethren and repented of his sins. He also brought before God, all of the promises and held Him to His word. From this, it is important for us to practice this type of praying especially when we are on the verge of answering God's calling. 

Make God aware that you are willing, and you are going to hold him to His promises of never leaving your side through the journey. 

3. STICK TO THE TIMELINE

Daniel 9:24-27: Be sure to dedicate time to conquering the task at hand. This not only hold you accountable but it ensures you are not distracted and not a victim of procrastination. 

In this chapter of Daniel, there was a time to finish transgression and a time to make an end of sins and repent. Very serious stuff! We can see that when we are called to a task, regardless of what it is, the time we commit to getting it done, especially once it is brought before God is no laughing matter. 

I can recall the moment like it was yesterday when I received my admission letter to medical school. The degree would take 5 years of my life. Immediately my mind began racing, trying to map out how I would finance it all and whether or not I would be able to complete it in the 5 years required. Before announcing to my family, after my shift ended and on my drive home that night from work, I began to speak to God. God, this is it. You made this possible. I am dedicating the next 5 years to completing this degree, no more and no less. Make it happen, provide financially, physically, emotionally and spiritually like I know only you can. If this wasn't in your plan I know you wouldn't have answered my prayer. 

Needless to say, He kept his promise and provided. Was it all a bed of roses and filled with luxurious trips around the world on breaks? Not at all. It was a rollercoaster. The one where it feels like you're ready for it until you reach the pinnacle and on the verge of a monstrous drop that goes on for more than a minute. I faced all sorts of tests. Tests of defect, rejection, isolation, depression and of course contemplated throwing in the towel more times than I could count. But the timeline was set and the goal was to complete it and by God's power I made it. 

Setting a timeline and sticking to it, results in increased productivity because you become dedicated to getting it done and you then become free to new callings once the goal is met. 

4. BE AWARE OF OPPOSITION & OPEN TO CONSTRUCTIVE CRITICISM

Daniel 8:1-27: While we are succeeding in our calling, opposition will come. You will feel as though you're a bunching bag for an MMA fighter. This should be expected. Don't dwell on it. Continue in your calling the best you can. 

There will be persons placed along your journey who will provide sound wisdom and constructive criticism to help in your calling. Seek discernment to know the difference, otherwise you'll be like a fool, taking advice from anyone with a mouth and an opinion. 

5. KNOW THAT ALL THINGS WORK TOGETHER FOR GOOD

Romans 8: 28-29: Remain grounded and keep your plan before the Lord and as you work your plan, be encouraged because all things do work together. Of course it will require dedication, commitment and lots of humility, but with consistency and steadfastness, you will see God work things out for your good! 

In addition to the aforementioned, the lesson brought home the following points for me: 

1. Sometimes our calling is NOT a bed of roses.  God may prepare us for our calling through education or experiences, we must be up to whatever means He chooses. 

2. The reason we are called may be due to our willingness and humility. Are you finding yourself stuck in a rut, not experiencing new challenges? Have you checked your relationship with God recently? Re-evaluation helps ensure we are growing with Christ. 

3. No matter the calling, if we are not willing or humble we may very well miss out on the reward. There will be something that distracts us, keeps us depressed and unmotivated and further away from success until we find ourselves looking to ourselves for ways to succeed which as we all know leads to failure in one way or another at some point or another. 

Ezra and Nehemiah's calling was to a) rebuild the temple, b) to teach the people about God and c) to guide them back to a committed relationship with Him. As Christians, b) and c) are automatic callings. It's not always easy to know what we are being called to do, but it does get easier the more we spend time adjusting our schedule to give ourselves time to learn God's voice through daily communion with Him. 

In what ways have you experienced the reality that God is calling you? Have you been answering or running away from your calling? 

Prayer's Power

“Prayer is not asking. Prayer is putting oneself in the hands of God, at His disposition, and listening to His voice in the depth of our hearts.” ― Mother Teresa

I'd like to share a devotional that resonated with me last week. This post has been through several drafts as I wasn't sure which way would be the best way to share my experience until this was read during my family's evening devotion.

Before March 11th, I felt a level of spiritual detachment that I had never experienced before. I pondered whether what I was experiencing was actual feeling of "grieving the Holy Spirit." This shook me to the core. I was able to pray, however it wasn't as often, and I often did it out of habit not because I needed to communicate with my friend and Father, there was a sense of rebellion swelling up within me because I couldn't understand why certain things were taking place. For instance, why no matter the amount of time I dedicated to my academic studies my level of application and understanding must have been deficient since my grades demonstrated underperformance rather than confidence and understanding. My family life was being targeted and I was just over the dysfunction.

I found myself frequently ill, despite having received the recent influenza vaccination and constantly depressed. The fire that once burnt brightly within for medicine and this ministry of healing was slowing diminishing.

This devotion offered me hope and my prayer is that it would do the same for you as well.

God Hears Prayers

"Surely the Lord our God has shown us His glory and His greatness, and we have heard His voice from the midst of the fire. We have seen this day that God speaks with man; yet he still lives."-Deuteronomy 5:24

Andrea met Christ and wanted to accept Him as her personal Saviour, but she was reluctant to surrender herself entirely to Him. Her main problem was that she was not willing to adopt a simpler physical appearance; above all, she did not want to stop wearing jewellery. She decided to speak to God through prayer to ask for His guidance. 

She went to her room and knelt. As she prayed, she experienced the feeling of being in the presence of God. She felt in her heart that earthly things are worthless once God occupies the right place in our lives. When she finished praying, she knew that the Lord wanted her to know that He truly calls and qualifies the candidates for His kingdom. All doubt disappeared and she decide to be baptised, surrendering her whole life into God's hands. 

The Lord speaks to us in the context of prayer. We can hear His beautiful voice that validates our faith and gives us the assurance of our salvation. We need to remember as well that He speaks to us primarily through the Bible. We must remain open to listen to His written word. The apostle Paul urges us to open our ears to His voice:

" So we must listen very carefully to the truth we have heard, or we may drift away from it. For the message God delivered through angels has always stood firm, and every violation of the law and every act of disobedience was punished. So what makes us think we can escape if we ignore this great salvation that was first announced by the Lord Jesus himself and then delivered to us by those who heard him speak?" (Hebrews 2:1-3 NLT)

However, we must train our spiritual sense to recognise the voice of God in His word. We must ask the Holy Spirit, who inspired the prophets, to enlighten our minds to recognise what God wants to say to us. Let us allow Him to be present, to touch us, and to communicate His will and bring peace to our heart. 

            _________________________________________________________________


Based on the above, my practice now when I pray, is to ask to be able to differentiate the voice of God and to know when God speaks to me. I often try to remind myself now, that God never turns away from His promises nor does He walk away from a relationship with us. It is us, who decide to stray based on the deceptions planted by Satan and his demons because he knows that once we believe that God is unable to forgive or accept us as we are, it is easier for him to see us lose out on salvation.

Prayer has the power to change our hearts and our minds and to awaken our senses once we pray earnestly and receptive to the reply.

As you move into the upcoming week, aim to pray more selflessly and ask for discernment and the ability to recognise what God is saying to you.

Starting Each Day in the Word

“Renewal of mind begins with reading and mediation on the Scriptures.” ― Lailah Gifty Akita, Think Great: Be Great!

With the start of a new year, comes the excitement of a new beginning.

If we stop and reflect on the first "in the beginning" we'd see that before all that we call common and familiar there was nothing. You see, in the beginning there was God, the Trinity and the host of heaven. Yes there were other worlds but before God utilised his creative power to create a world unlike any other, there was nothing here. God saw fit to do something different and to create a world where he would be able to commune with His creation without any restrictions.

That's definitely something to think about. January is over. How was your beginning? Was it filled with creativity and the momentum to carry you through another two months? Were you able to reconnect with the one who owns the cattle on a thousand hills or did you decide that there's always tomorrow to seek Him?

The danger with putting off what we can do today for tomorrow is that Satan would have us believe that we have power over our breath and indeed will see tomorrow.

You see my friend, in the beginning when God had breathed into man the breath of life which gave man the power to live, there was no doubt that he would live to see another day. Tomorrow was guaranteed because at that time, sin was non-existent.

Now that we don't have that luxury it is our duty to daily adhere to the wisdom of Isaiah and to "seek ye the Lord while he may be found, call ye upon him while he is near: let the wicked forsake his way and the unrighteous man his thoughts and let him return unto the Lord, and he will have mercy upon him; and to our God, for he will abundantly pardon."- Isaiah 55:6-7.

With each new day, we can see that the world is not what it once was. The seasons seem to be out of sync, natural disasters are becoming commonplace and unfortunately we are becoming desensitised to things that once were troubling. We are more accepting of evil and persecuting those who are holding firm to truth and standing against what society has dubbed "normal."

In the beginning, there was peace, love and unity.
In the beginning there was communion with the Creator.

Each day is your "in the beginning", take the opportunity to daily recommitment your life to the Creator, to find out who He is and why he's granted you the gift of having a new beginning.

This year, I'm making the commitment to re-read my Bible through again while I prepare for my final examinations of medical school. Like most of you, I have faced some challenges already but there's nothing like achieving a goal.

If you'd like to join me, comment below with your plan for reading the Bible through and how you plan to make this year the best year yet!

Here's to embracing your new beginning!

Lessons from Esther

"And who knows but that you have come to your royal position for such a time as this?"- Esther 4:14

Have you ever pondered on the person Esther was before she was queen? Have you ever taken a step back and asked yourself "Is my response to hatred and prejudice in keeping with Christ's example? or am I allowing societal norms to direct and influence my actions?"

For the month of September, I took it upon myself to re-read the book of Esther, mainly during a period when several Adventist students were faced with religious prejudice and given an ultimatum to either sit their Senior Paediatrics end of rotation OSCE's on the Sabbath. During this period of I made note of five main lessons I learned during my reading which I have outlined below. 

It's interesting to see that, often when I ask others about their thoughts on the Bible, they agree that there are lessons within that can shape and direct our approach to life's trials, but there is just not enough hours in the day to spend a minute immersed in the Word. Funny isn't it that we find time for everything we consider a priority, besides God. I won't begin to pretend to be righteous and as if I have all aspects of my life planned and figured out; because I don't. But I do still find it interesting that often enough, we want answers but don't want to put in the necessary work to get those answers. It's just something we have to strive to change if we truly consider ourselves to be Christians. 

The Bible is our 'guidebook'. It outlines the objectives as well as the answers. To the only child reading this, you are no longer sibling less; you have a sister who became Queen and who stood firm in principle when persecution was at her front door. Her name you ask? It is Esther. To the young man seeking belonging and contemplating joining a gang-be friends with Joseph and Daniel-never would you lack adventure. 

You see our devotion to God must be more than mere words. It takes action. In 2017, the young are being called to serve. Will we answer? or will we conform? 

5 Lessons from the Book of Esther

1. Diversity.

Your diversity speaks volumes of your character. Do not feel the need to change who you are to follow the world. Esther 2: 7, 9

2. Lack of Experience? So what!

God uses those with the least amount of experience to achieve great things. To be called requires no experience, just an ounce of faithfulness to the calling. Esther 1: 1; 2:18

3. Humble thyself.

Humility is rare. Embrace it. Do not go out of your way to prove your worth; you'd be surprise those who've already taken notice. Realize your worth. Esther 2: 15, 17

4. Integrity and Dignity; Get some.

Your integrity and dignity may anger many. Serve God still! Esther 3: 2, 8

5. Faith-Mustard Seed Faith.

Be faithful in small responsibilities; God will reward your faithfulness far more than you can imagine. Esther 2:17; 3:2

Lessons from the Book of Job

This post is a bit delayed, however, it should still be appropriate and right on time for some if not all of you.

My month of reading the book of Job earlier this year revealed the importance of daily devotion and allowed me to see the strength Job gained not just of his faith, but also of knowing his purpose.

There are times when life challenges us beyond our imagination when we feel as though we're not meant to go on; and just when we're about to give up, that little bit of hope that we have left is all we need to reignite our faith in God and knowing that His way and plan is far better than our own even though we're not experiencing the happiest of times.

My dear friend, medical school has its moments, I know that and I hope you come to realize that as well. Life has its moments as well; learn to enjoy both the happy and the bad ones because simply experiencing them is a reminder in and of itself that you're still in the fight.

Thessalonians reminds us to "REJOICE ALWAYS" and yes it may seem as though it's easier said than done, but after you've endured one storm, rejoicing becomes second nature.


All the best for the week ahead and don't be a stranger to the book of Job when you're in need of encouragement and a reminder of what it means to live a life of purpose.

Blogging through the Bible Job 27-31

This week's reading included Job 27-31.  If you've been enjoying the reading of Job thus far and have been blessed and changed by Job thus far, I am glad.

The discussion questions can be found here. Also Courtney wrote an interesting post on wisdom that I think you may enjoy reading.

As you continue to read through the book of Job and the Bible, my prayer is that God will open your heart and mind to receive Him and for you to gain and experience a balance and peaceful life.

To access the discussion questions you can click the link above or use the following: http://womenlivingwell.org/2016/02/good-morning-girls-resources-job-27-31/, or to access the post on wisdom: http://womenlivingwell.org/2016/02/where-is-wisdom/

Blogging through The Bible: Job 16-26

Excuse my tardiness regarding the upload of this post. I've been practicing some bad sleeping/studying habits lately and as a result my daily devotions have been affected and believe me when I say it, I have noticed a difference in my daily outlook. Nonetheless, here are the discussion questions from the previous two weeks. Please feel free to contribute to the discussion by adding your answers, thoughts, or convictions in the comments section below.

Week 4

Job's response once again to his friends is more firm and confident. He is now answering them not as a man guilty of committing a sin, but of a man who sees and understands to some extent that even though he is a target for his enemies, he is still sure of whose child he is. 

More and more as the dialogue advances between Job and his friends, he realizes that they are not truly friends. Rather than providing comfort, they are adding to his misery. We are no different, I included. 

As a child growing up, my dad would also tell my sister, brother and I whenever he found us engaged in idle chatter or wasting our time with our friends rather than balancing our time, that we "too like company". Basically, we would rather be surrounded by a lot of friends or involved in a good time versus keeping busy with our school work or chores. As I got older, I realized the truth in his saying, especially when I realized that persons who I considered friends were merely fillers; meaning there was no substance to any of our conversations or interactions. 

Job chapters 17 and 18 continues outlining the dialogue once again between Job and his friends. 

In Chapter 17 Job explains how he feels regarding the counsel of his friends.  Chapter 18 is Bildad's response and his tone of is unlike that of a friend. How many of you noticed that? Bildad's response to Job is laced with emotion as is expected to some degree, he's hurt that Job would refer to them as "miserable comforters" (Job 16:2) and in verse 5-21 he compares Job to a wicked man. 

Relationships are learning experiences for us all. We learn how to encourage others and also how to keep quiet when we feel as though our good intentions and encouragement is a discouragement. My biggest lesson was learning when to keep quiet as silence is truly golden and although we may expect our friends to treat us a certain way or to show up when we are experiencing moments of discouragement or despair, we have to remember as well at the end of the day they're only human as well. The older I get, the less I am realizing I expect from others and the more my faith and trust is in God, for He is the only friend that sticks closer than a brother, and if any of you have a brother you know that they can annoyingly stick pretty close. 

Week 5:

Zophar's answer to Job in chapter 20:5 "that the triumphing of the wicked is short, and the joy of the hypocrite but for a moment" reminds us even though he was referring to Job at this point, that even though the wicked may be prospering at the moment and enjoying their joy and prosperity, it is only but for a moment. 

The Bible offers countless reminders that our eyes are to be steadfast on Christ. We are to seek the kingdom of God first (Matt. 6:33), it is only then will all things that our heart may desire in accordance to God's will, will be offered unto us. By remaining focused on God, we should not have the time to even consider what the wicked are doing. 

 

Feel free to check back next week for the discussion of Job 26-29. More resources are available at Good Morning Girls and all photos used in this post are courtesy of the Women Living Well Ministries Blog.

Blogging through the Bible: Job 11-15

This week was one that tested my faith and allowed me to determine whether or not I have truly grown spiritually or not. I am glad to report that I am indeed growing and no matter how much I try to predict how God will answer my prayer, I am NEVER right. "The deep things of God? Can you find out the limit of the Almighty?"-there is no way that I can ever be able to do that, so from here on out, I have decided to quit trying and to just trust in knowing that His ways are better than mine, His thoughts are better than mine and accept that He knows what's best for me; even though I may believe I do. 

Let's get into this week's assigned reading: Job 11-15. Once again I will be sharing my observations (based on the SOAK method) as I read the assigned texts and I encourage you to share your thoughts and any observations or applications you may have noted down in your Bible Study Journal this week. 

Job 11

Here we find Zophar responding to Job in not such a nice way. Basically Zophar tells Job that there is no way he is as righteous as he claims to be because his current condition and the extension of his lost says otherwise. He flat out tells him, that he is being punished by God (Job 11:5), because it is God who knows all men, be they just or unjust and it is He who sees all evil and good and they do not go unnoticed or unrewarded. 

Zophar then pleads with Job (Job 11:13) to admit his wrong-confess to God-and be forgiven with the hope that if he died he would rest safely. 

Discouraging isn't it? After an ear full of that, I may have started to question my life and to try to search my memory for the moment when I may have wronged God that would warrant such punishment. However Job doesn't do that; as we will see in chapter 12. 

Never in my life had I imagined my family and I would be victims of a robbery at our home. It was during a Christmas vacation and my brother and I had returned home to visit our parents and family. Long story short, we were awakened by a masked intruder waving a kitchen knife who had made us believe (as we were in the same bedroom) that our parents were dead. At that moment my mind began to race and my brother turned to me and said "do as he requests and just pray". The intruder was telling me to turn on my stomach, not to look at him. I fought everything inside of me that wanted to attack him, rested my head on my pillow and began to pray. I prayed and told God that He had said "there shall no evil befall thee, neither shall any plague come nigh thy dwelling. For He shall give his angels charge over thee, to keep thee in all thy ways (Psalm 91:11)" and for those angels that were camping around our house to step in and to work and I also prayed for peace. I had started to cry as well not knowing whether or not my parents were safe. My prayer was interrupted when I heard my mother's voice which caught the attention of the intruder as he was packing up my brother's backpack with our computers and other electronics.

Little did Jon and I know that my father had prayed and had devised a plan to get the man out of our home.

God gives us peace in our darkest moments and through prayer, I have always found hope in these times.

Job 12:

Don't you just LOVE Job's responses to these friends of his? Chapter 12 Job does not sit quietly when his friends decide to give their opinions about his situation. 

Job makes it clear to Zophar and to anyone else who may be having doubts about his character that he is far from incompetent and fully aware of God's capabilities which he lists starting in verse 10-25. 

As sinful as the world is, nature speaks highly of the power of God and of His creative design. Have you ever went to the zoo and just sat and watched the animals? or  enjoyed the fragrance of a flower or your harvest from the garden? These things all serve as reminders to make us aware of the kindness, presence and goodness of God. Isn't this just encouraging? 

When I sit and observe nature it is then that I truly feel the presence of God versus when I am going about my day with the countless distractions and things to do. 

Job 13:

Is where Job continues with his response to his friends.

This week's discussion question deals with something I mentioned in a previous post regarding the boldness of the questions and accusations made by Job's friends. Here we see Zophar questioning Job's walk with God. Sometimes we are faced with such situations where others are confused about why we still serve God when we are faced with difficult moments. What they cannot understand is the loyalty we have regardless of the situations.

It is hard to explain to someone the power of God if they have never acknowledged His hand in directing their path or granting them protection through the night, as they would consider it something that is just suppose to happen-naturally; so what works for me is allowing my life to speak volumes about God's power and to do my best to encourage persons to keep trusting in God always.

Job 14:

There is always comfort in knowing that things will get better and that despite the seasons of difficulty endured on this earth, there shall be countless seasons of joy, not just here but also in heaven as well. 

I find comfort in knowing that this earth is not the end, but how we live here is the beginning of unspeakable joy. 

Job 15:

I'd like to hear your thoughts on this. Place yourself in Job's situation; surrounded by friends who you considered highly and here they are trying to pick their brain to figure out where in your journey with God you went wrong. How would you address them? Have you encountered such an experience? How did you handle it? 

Thank you for joining me this week. It is always a pleasure to share my thoughts and to read your comments, so be sure to continue leaving them. As a new week approaches may the upcoming chapters allow for another opportunity where God can speak to us so that we can be more like Him and learn of His character. If you can be sure to check out womenlivingwell.org for the upcoming discussion questions. 

Blogging through the Bible: Job 6-10

Image via

Are you enjoying reading through the book of Job? I know I am. It's amazing how easy it becomes to make Bible applications to life when you're reading a certain book that discusses a particular theme.

This week's readings discussed the following:

Job 6: Job appeals to his friends for sympathy.

Job 7: Job appeals to God for relief.

Job 8: Bildad responds to Job: advises him to get things right with God

Job 9: Job's affirmation of God's power and questioning of God's justice.

Job 10: Job's plea to God.


The following are my observations as I read the aforementioned chapters. I am happy to hear your thoughts and observations as well, so feel free to share in the comments section below.

Job 6

This chapter is Job's answer to his friends words. What I gathered is that Job is displeased by the words of Eliphaz and all he requests is their sympathy for his suffering  rather than their judgement (Job 6:14).  For them knowing Job's character and to find him enduring such suffering must have made them question his righteousness. Imagine that, someone who they may have seen teaching others how to live a godly life, returning a faithful tithe, following the scriptures etc to be in such a state may have gotten their minds going as to what either in his younger years or in the secret of his home, he must have done to deserve such a punishment. 

Job is bold in his response to them. He states his disappointment and compares them to a stream that is not connected to a perpetual supply of water (Job 6:15-19). When I first read this, I didn't understand the comparison so I had to study it closer to get exactly what Job was saying here. Bible Commentators explain this text as follows: 

15. Those whom I regarded as "my brethren," from whom I looked for faithfulness in my adversity, have disappointed me, as the streams failing from drought--wadies of Arabia, filled in the winter, but dry in the summer, which disappoint the caravans expecting to find water there. The fulness and noise of these temporary streams answer to the past large and loud professions of my friends; their dryness in summer, to the failure of the friendship when needed. The Arab proverb says of a treacherous friend, "I trust not in thy torrent" ( Isaiah 58:11 , Margin). 

stream of brooks--rather, "the brook in the ravines which passes away." It has no perpetual spring of water to renew it (unlike "the fountain of living waters,"  Jeremiah 2:13 ,  Isaiah 33:16 , at the end); and thus it passes away as rapidly as it arose.

16. blackish--literally, "Go as a mourner in black clothing" ( Psalms 34:14 ). A vivid and poetic image to picture the stream turbid and black with melted ice and snow, descending from the mountains into the valley. In the [second] clause, the snow dissolved is, in the poet's view, "hid" in the flood [UMBREIT].

17. wax warm--rather, "At the time when." ("But they soon wax") [UMBREIT]. "they become narrower (flow in a narrower bed), they are silent (cease to flow noisily); in the heat (of the sun) they are consumed or vanish out of their place. First the stream flows more narrowly--then it becomes silent and still; at length every trace of water disappears by evaporation under the hot sun" [UMBREIT].

18. turned aside--rather, "caravans" (Hebrew, "travellers") turn aside from their way, by circuitous routes, to obtain water. They had seen the brook in spring full of water: and now in the summer heat, on their weary journey, they turn off their road by a devious route to reach the living waters, which they remembered with such pleasure. But, when "they go," it is "into a desert" [NOYES and UMBREIT]. Not as English Version, "They go to nothing," which would be a tame repetition of the drying up of the waters in  Job 6:17 ; instead of waters, they find an "empty wilderness"; and, not having strength to regain their road, bitterly disappointed, they "perish." The terse brevity is most expressive.

19. the troops--that is, "caravans." 

Tema--north of Arabia-Deserta, near the Syrian desert; called from Tema son of Ishmael ( Genesis 25:15 , Isaiah 21:14 ,  Jeremiah 25:23 ), still so called by the Arabs.  Job 6:19  Job 6:20 give another picture of the mortification of disappointed hopes, namely, those of the caravans on the direct road, anxiously awaiting the return of their companions from the distant valley. The mention of the locality whence the caravans came gives living reality to the picture. 

Sheba--refers here not to the marauders in North Arabia-Deserta ( Job 1:15 ), but to the merchants ( Ezekiel 27:22 ) in the south, in Arabia-Felix or Yemen, "afar off" ( Jeremiah 6:20 ,  Matthew 12:42 ,  Genesis 10:28 ). Caravans are first mentioned in  Genesis 37:25 ; men needed to travel thus in companies across the desert, for defense against the roving robbers and for mutual accommodation. 

The companies . . . waited for them--cannot refer to the caravans who had gone in quest of the waters; for Job 6:18 describes their utter destruction.

Imagine that. The moment Job needed a listening ear without judgement and just mere sympathy, he got a friends opinion of what he should do to rid himself of his suffering.  There are times when we find ourselves in the position of Job's friends and we offer advice-which at times may not be bad advice; however, there is a time and a place for everything. We must remember to ask God to bless us with a receptive heart, so that we can be keen and sensitive to the suffering of others and wise enough to determine when it is best to just sit in silence. 

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Like Job we too want to know the answers to "why" we are suffering. Most times it isn't for us to know the answer but to realize the lesson God is teaching us that will work in our favor to strengthen our faith.

I find it hard to look at a situation and to consider the lesson or to focus on what is being taught when I am knee deep in it, but what I have found to work is being alone with God, the Bible and pouring my heart out to Him asking for strength, clarity and appreciation of the lesson.

Job 7:

Despite Job's suffering he is fully aware that God is sparing his life and here we find Job questioning why he is being spared as he doesn't understand it (Job 7:1, 17, 20). 

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If you're like me, you find yourself questioning your existence. It may be because of a series of unfortunate events or consequences of your actions; whatever the scenario, it is hard to grasp why God sees it fit to allow us to see yet another day, another opportunity to make a new memory, another day where He grants us and our loved ones protection. 

The long and short of it is explained in Isaiah 55:8-9 "For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, saith the Lord. For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways, and my thoughts than your thoughts." It's simple as that. When we are deserving of punishment, He spares us; now that is true unconditional love. 

The story of Job is introducing me to the complexity of the present spiritual battle that is underway and that God is on my side through it all sustaining me. It is not up to me to figure out why I am still alive as He has already shown that to me, it is now up to me to choose if I will follow His purpose for my life, or create my own. Each day is a new opportunity to live a [Godly] purpose driven life. 

Job 8: 

In this chapter Bildad approaches Job requesting to know how long he would speak as one who has been defeated. It must have been hard for them to sit and listen as Job spoke. He must have sounded so depressed and like Eeyore-the donkey from Winnie the Pooh, after a while they must have gotten frustrated. 

Bildad's questions give the impression that at the back of his mind, Job must have committed a terrible sin and the only way to cease suffering, would be to confess (Job 8:5). 

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All in all, chapter 8 is where Bildad bursts into accusations (probably with a whole lot of hand gestures). His judgement comes as a surprise to me, as people tend to visit you when you are sick and quietly judge rather than expressing their thoughts regarding your suffering. 

Being a Judge Judy, comes easy. The hard part is not judging someone else. When I am faced with the opportunity to judge someone I always recite Matthew 7:1, 2 that says "Judge not, that ye be not judged. For with what judgment ye judge, ye shall be judged: and with what measure ye mete, it shall be measured to you again." How can you gladly judge someone after reciting that? I know I can and I wouldn't dare to. 

Job 9:

I found myself sympathizing with Job in this chapter. After everything he has experienced and not knowing the outcome and simply wanting to die than to live another day in excruciating pain. At this point in the story, I felt as though Job is afraid to blatantly question God (Job 9:1-2,14), because despite it being puzzling that as he is a just man, he is experiencing unwarranted suffering. Yes, he is fully aware that God is in charge (Job 9:5-9) and one to 'destroy the perfect and the wicked'; however he is not aware of the battle being fought for his life and hence his impression that God is angry with him punishing him out of anger. 

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Like Job, we experience discouragement especially in the thick of dire situations; unlike Job, we have his story to offer us encouragement and the Bible which is filled with others who have endured suffering because of the Great Controversy that is going on that we are not able of seeing. 

We have the best story of encouragement during our times of discouragement. Christ-sinless as He was-walked on earth as a man, and endured persecuted as did the prophets before, then we should not fret when we are being persecuted or experiencing our share of suffering. One of the most encouraging texts is Matthew 5: 3-16 and for emphasis regarding the discussion question verses 11-12: "Blessed are ye, when men shall revile you, and persecute you and shall say all manner of evil against you falsely for my sake. Rejoice and be exceeding glad for great is your reward in heaven: for so persecuted they the prophets which were before you."

Try whispering (or loudly exclaiming) that text when you are discouraged. 

Job 10:

We find that Job's confusion is clearly evident and here he voices that. He acknowledges his understanding of pain and suffering and he believes as though he is on the verge of death. This is interesting to me because it shows that here Job's faith is being tested and although he knows the power of God, he doesn't seem to believe that he will be healed. 

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My prayer for myself and for you is that after reading the book of Job that we would have a greater appreciation for moments of suffering and faith building and we will stand on the word of God for encouragement when we are discouraged and that rather than allowing our discouragement turn into bitterness and self-pity we will remember that God's thoughts for us and His plans for us are not plans of evil but of peace and of prosperity (Jeremiah 29:11) all he is asking of us is to accept the purpose He has shown us and to taste and see for ourselves His goodness (Psa 34:8) that others in the Bible have experienced. 

As you prepare for another weekend, I encourage you to join me again as we read Job 11-15 and I am interested in knowing your thoughts as well. Be blessed. 

Blogging through the Bible: Job 1-5

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The first full week of the New Year is officially over! You made it. If you decided to study along with me, you would have read the background of Job's suffering.

At some point or another in our lives we find ourselves asking one of the following, if not all of the following questions in some shape or fashion:

1. When I suffer, can I be certain God is punishing me?

2. What does God think when I argue with Him? 

3. Are religious 'experts' always right? 

The first two chapters of Job shows that it is indeed possible to have just people suffer in an unjust world and chapters 3-14 (if you are one who likes to read ahead) demonstrates that our human answers be it in the form of friends or religious counsel do not satisfy, and as such we must call on God.

As I look back through my notes from this week's reading, I'd like to share my observations and I would love to hear what God showed you this week as you read as well.

Job 1: 

The first verse describes Job as being "perfect and upright, and one that feared God and eschewed evil." Was anyone else curious to know what this meant or am I the only one? 

After searching and following cross-texts in my Bible, I came to Genesis 6:9 which speaks of Noah being "just", and then to Proverbs 8:13 which tells us that the fear of God is to "hate evil: pride and arrogance and the evil way and the froward mouth..."

If you would recall from this chapter, Satan entered a meeting of God with the sons of God-who are leaders of un-fallen worlds; after roaming the corners of the earth he found that there was one man in the land of Uz, who was blessed beyond measure and 'perfect'. This must have made Satan furious; knowing that the earth possessed a man, who was blessed by God and doing his best to live life according to the principles and promises of God's word. He had to act! Here he was now in the presence of God. 

Let's rewind for a second, recall that Satan was kicked out of heaven along with his followers because he allowed sin (his selfish desire to be worshipped as God was, and his pride) to envelope his heart and his being.  Now  we can clearly see that Satan's agenda before and after his fall has been to prove that God cannot be worshipped by 'mere mortals' or other created beings solely based on their free will, but our worship is rooted in our desire to be blessed. His desire is to misrepresent God's character and to cause men to cherish a false conception of the Creator, which would lead man to hate and be fearful of God. (Isa. 14:12-14)

Satan in verse 11 of Job 1 makes his request to prove that the reason Job is "perfect and upright" is because of God's protection and his bountiful blessing. This chapter demonstrates (to me) the length at which Satan goes to provoke followers of God to turn away from God and it goes on further to demonstrate God's unconditional love for us and the freedom of choice we are given. Whether we choose to live a life that's perfect and upright, fearing God, or to disregard His word and work in our lives and to live according to our own merit, He allows us to make our own decisions without any form of arm twisting on His part. 

Job's perfection by no means was absolute or faultless perfection, however, it was based on the integrity, sincerity and consistency on the whole in all relations of his life which was seen by his continuance of offering prayers of sanctification on behalf of his children who chose to 'curse God in their hearts.' (Job 1:5)

It is very easy to praise and follow God in the good times, as it is to say "thank-you" to someone who has just extended kindness or love to us. The true test of our faith is how we respond when we are experiencing seasons of tribulations. 

I do my best, and I'll admit I'm not always successful, however I do try, to remain faithful during these times by reminding myself of situations I have survived thanks to God's deliverance. 

It's like this, knowing that I serve a God who is the creator of the universe and who declares in His word that He will provide for me as He does for the birds of the air (Matt 6:26) allows me to face those bad times with joy. 

Job teaches us that in the midst of our suffering, we can still have joy. 

Job 2:

Once again we see that Satan presents himself uninvited to a meeting God held with the leaders of un-fallen worlds. Do you see a pattern here? Satan is declaring ownership of the earth, and is attending these meetings as leader/ruler of the earth.  

After his last appearance, he received permission to attack Job, with the disclaimer that he is to spare his life. Satan returns now to report although he has failed, he returns to seek permission to destroy Job. God refuses to allow Satan to claim Job's life but gives him permission to carry on. 

The second chapter introduces Job's wife. Someone I'm sure he must have loved dearly and thought highly of. Here we see how Satan unbeknownst to us, uses people closest to us, to plant seeds of doubt in our minds during our suffering. Regardless of this, Job remains steadfast in his faith and he does not curse God. 

I have had experiences where I was subtly encouraged to walk away from God and I'm sure you have too. This encouragement may not be as blatant as we saw in Job 2, but they do occur. It seems in my life for the one person who may encourage me to go give up on God, there are at least two more who are encouraging me to keep the faith and to seek Him. 

At times we may have to respond boldly as Job did and in other instances our actions will transform that persons life. We are encouraged to remain faithful and to trust in God's plan. 

Job 3:

At the end of Chapter 2 Job is joined by his friends and chapter 3 begins with Job expressing himself. Firstly I cannot fathom the pain Job must have been in at this moment, and I commend him for not responding as he did sooner. As he starts to curse the day of his birth, I am reminded of the similarity of his words to that of the prophet Jeremiah (Jer. 20:14). 

Reflect for a moment on your life; do you a recall a time when you cursed the day you were born? or simply wished you were not experiencing difficulty? 

Job and Jeremiah both serve as encouragement for us. You see, Job was faithful to God and Jeremiah prophesied as God instructed and yet they both found themselves on the receiving end of pain, sorrow, ridicule and suffering. Quite frankly, they are human as we are, and there is only so much we can tolerate before we break down and just wish it would all disappear. 

2 Corinthians 2:8-10 provides us with comfort in those times when we find ourselves questioning why we are experiencing certain things. It tells us "For this thing I besought the Lord thrice, that it might depart from me. And he said unto me, My grace is sufficient for thee: for my strength is made perfect in weakness. Most gladly therefore will I rather glory in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me. Therefore I take pleasure in infirmities, in reproaches, in necessities, in persecutions, in distresses for Christ's sake: for when I am weak, then am I strong."

That alone reassures us that Christ wants us to afford him the opportunity to be our strength during our difficulties. Knowing this why should we be disheartened or discouraged? It definitely makes me look at my struggles in another light; what about you?

Job 4:

Don't you just hate hearing "everything's going to be okay" when you're going through something. When I am discouraged and completely weary, nothing annoys me more when friends try to console me and attach "everything is going to be okay" to their sentiments. Not that they are entirely wrong, just that sometimes to the believer that can go without saying. 

In chapter 4 Job is still in the presence of his friends who are saddened by the condition he is in. One of his friends Eliphaz is moved to speak, he begins by reminding Job of who he is and the good he has done. In verse 6 he asks "Is not this thy fear, thy confidence, thy hope and the uprightness of thy ways?" If we look at Proverbs 3:26 here we see that in every situation the Lord shall be our confidence, keeping our foot from being moved-Eliphaz is doing his best to remind Job to whom he is faithful and who holds his source of strength. 

At this moment, Job found it hard to cope with what he was enduring. Similarly we find ourselves at this same point during our difficult seasons of life. During David's affliction in Psalm 119: 67, 71, 75 he confesses that before his affliction he was not diligent in following God, as we sometimes are, however his experience taught him the law of God and allowed God to demonstrate His faithfulness to Him without any distractions. This is what we experience too because we are so distracted by our possessions, our positions and achievements sometimes in order to be reconnected with God, we must be stripped of these things. During these difficult seasons of life we are to boldly confess our sins to God (Rev 3: 19) and remember that trials are 'chastisements for their good to the righteous' (Prov. 3:12, Heb. 12:6). 

Job 5:

As we do our best to live in this world of sin as followers of Christ, we are reminded that we are born into sin and are prone to experience the trouble that exists here and in those moments when we experience trouble we are to call to God for help (Job 5:6-9). 

I found this chapter to be a good chapter to close the week on as it ends with encouragement and allows reflection on what was revealed in the preceding chapters. 

For most of you who regularly follow my blog, you are aware that I am a student and that alone presents its own share of challenges. Like most of you would also know, tertiary education is far from being cheap or affordable. At our University and I assume most employ this standard, in order to sit examinations and to receive your grades your fees must be paid in full before the listed examination date. 

Finding the silver lining in difficult financial moments is becoming easier for me to do as I have seen God provide every red cent that I needed hours before I was suppose to sit the end of year exam. 

When God answers my prayers and when I pray, completely trusting and believing that He will work in His timing to strengthen my faith and that of others around me, it becomes easy to stand on His promises and to pray claiming every single one because He is God, ruler, creator and owner of this world and Lord of my life who has called me to great things. At the end of the day He expects for me to continually trust Him and to apply myself in all areas of my life. 

I encourage you today to stand boldly on the promises of God. To use His word as a source of strength and to diligently study His word and hide it in your heart so that in your moments of difficulty you can find the silver lining. 

Did you enjoy the first five chapters of Job? What did you learn as you read? Were you encouraged? Did you find yourself questioning Job's actions or that of his wife? I would love to hear from you. Feel free to answer the discussion questions in the comment section below.