Job 13: 13 “Be silent now and leave me alone. Let me speak, and I will face the consequences. 14 Yes, I will take my life in my hands and say what I really think. 15 God might kill me, but I have no other hope. I am going to argue my case with him. 16 But this is what will save me—I am not godless. If I were, I could not stand before him.

20 “O God, grant me these two things, and then I will be able to face you. 21 Remove your heavy hand from me, and don’t terrify me with your awesome presence. 22 Now summon me, and I will answer! Or let me speak to you, and you reply. 23 Tell me, what have I done wrong? Show me my rebellion and my sin. 24 Why do you turn away from me? Why do you treat me as your enemy?

as you know.. I often read Job.. I FEEL him.. LOL!! as if I have such a rough life... there were times in this life that I really did have a rough life and I didn't read him then... but now.. I often feel as if much of my life is a test.. am I going to remain true to God.. true to who He says I am.. or am I going to run back to the familiar and be who I once was... and somehow.. day by day.. even if I slip and slide.. I stay on the right path.. (maybe over to the shoulder of the road some days.. )

I some days feel as if the Hand of God is too heavy upon me.. I try valiantly to do right.. yet things are not as I would want them to be... do we think this means God has left us.. or He is treating us like His enemy? I don't really think so.. there is nothing to make us believe that we will not have valleys and mountains.. that things will not be overwhelming some days.. that we will not feel like we may not be drowning in a sea of despair sometimes.. the bible in no way pretends we won't struggle.. yet we somehow think we shouldn't.. we think as long as we are doing right.. everything should go right... but that is not the word of God...

if things were good all the time.. we would not even see them as good.. we would still find something that is not right.. so we have trials and troubles to let us see how blessed we really are... focus not on what you don't have.. not on what is wrong in your world.. focus on what is right in your life... then you are far more likely to be able to count your blessings above your trials...

trials will come and they will go.. but the bible says they will not last always... trouble is.. when one is over.. another takes it's place.. so be thankful rather than sorrowful... in all things give thanks... and God will turn your situation for the good of those in your life... He is recreating us.. and surely it is a painful process but a good one!!