My Bitter Soul

And Job again took up his discourse, and said: As God lives, who has taken away my right, and the Almighty, who has made my soul bitter, as long as my breath is in me, and the spirit of God is in my nostrils, my lips will not speak falsehood, and my tongue will not utter deceit. Far be it from me to say that you are right; till I die I will not put away my integrity from me. I hold fast my righteousness and will not let it go; my heart does not reproach me for any of my days.
Job 27:1–6
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My Bitter Soul
Job takes up his defense again and does what we are also prone to do in times of strife and hardship, he lashes out at God. He accuses God of making his soul bitter. Even faithful Christians can succumb to this temptation in their times of distress.  “Why have you allowed this to happen God?” “Why won’t you stop it?”  And though we don’t like to admit it, we really should be asking is why have I not received even worse affliction?  Our sin separates us from God and invites His wrath upon us.  We deserve much worse than we have endured.  Nonetheless in the moment, when pain and suffering are happening, we can often question God’s love.  This is why it is so important to fill our thoughts with His Word. So that when everything seems to be falling apart, we can recall His promises. We can look to the cross and understand that Christ crucified is a picture of the Father’s love for us.  The fact that He gave His only Son over to death so that we might not have to suffer it eternally, reveals the depth off His love.  When we see Christ’s suffering for us, it helps to focus His love in our lives.  The bitterness we feel turns sweet, as we know the love of our Savior. Lives lived consistently in God’s Word guards against our own bitterness and sooths the wounds inflicted by this fallen world.
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