JOB 14:1-2 – “Man who is born of a woman is few of days and full of trouble. He comes out like a flower and withers; he flees like a shadow and continues not.”
THEME OF THE DAY: LIFE IS HARD. Today’s nugget theme is obvious. Someone said about life, “You are either in a trial, coming out of a trial, or preparing for a trial.” Every one of us would affirm that statement.
Our seasons of trial-free happiness in this world are brief. They often feel like watching a rising or setting sun; beautiful and short-lived.
If we ponder today’s scripture, it isn’t all gloom and doom. Yes, our days are full of trouble, but life flees like a shadow giving us hope. Though life is hard and painfully real, it is brief. It may not feel like it in those deep, long, and dark seasons of trial, but those seasons are short. The Apostle Peter encourages us with this truth in his first letter . . .
“And after you have suffered a little while, the God of all grace, who has called you to his eternal glory in Christ, will himself restore, confirm, strengthen, and establish you” (1 Peter 5:10).
We must keep the long view of life before us. The long view is to look into the halls of eternity compared with our short time on earth. Peter is right. Our suffering is for a little while.
Another truth to cling to when, not if, life is hard is to look to where we are going and also who we are going to be with for all eternity . . .
“Then I saw a new heaven and a new earth, for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away, and the sea was no more. And I saw the holy city, new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband. And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, “Behold, the dwelling place of God is with man. He will dwell with them, and they will be his people, and God himself will be with them as their God. He will wipe away every tear from their eyes, and death shall be no more, neither shall there be mourning, nor crying, nor pain anymore, for the former things have passed away.” And he who was seated on the throne said, “Behold, I am making all things new.” Also he said, “Write this down, for these words are trustworthy and true”” (Revelation 21:1-5).
In learning to think on heaven, we are able to see through our pain to the sure hope of being with Him who will wipe away all our tears, and forever we will be free from sorrow and suffering. But what about now? We have the promise of His sufficient grace. The Apostle Paul knew intense suffering and God gave Him what He needed, not deliverance, but strengthening grace and He will to us as well . . .
“So to keep me from becoming conceited because of the surpassing greatness of the revelations, a thorn was given me in the flesh, a messenger of Satan to harass me, to keep me from becoming conceited. Three times I pleaded with the Lord about this, that it should leave me. But he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore I will boast all the more gladly of my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may rest upon me. For the sake of Christ, then, I am content with weaknesses, insults, hardships, persecutions, and calamities. For when I am weak, then I am strong” (2 Corinthians 12:7-10).
Life is hard. Life will be hard. Don’t think otherwise, nor be surprised when it is. Instead remember life is short, heaven is real where trials and suffering are gone, and in this hard life, we will be given sufficient grace.
PRAYER: Father, help me not to expect life to be anything but hard in a world of sin and Satanic influence.
REFLECTION: For Christians, life’s difficulties teach trust in Jesus. For unbelievers, they take them to Jesus.