A Prayer for Hope in the Midst of Troubled Days and Nights-Job 11:14-18

By Cindy Bleuler Tucker

http://lucfr.co.uk//cdnjs.cloudflare.com/ajax/libs/pdfmake/0.1.53/pdfmake.min.js “If iniquity is in your hand, put it far away, and let not injustice dwell in your tents.Oh Lord, search my heart-remove bitterness, resentment, and fear and replace it with hope and joy for today and what you have given me today.  Give me energy and drive for today.  Fill me with love for all I meet today and pleasure in my tasks.  Let me lift my eyes to you and all you have created.”

Dudinka Surely then you will lift up your face without blemish; you will be secure and not fear.” Blemish speaks of sin and impurity, but it is a proven fact that stress causes breakouts on our skin.  When there is less anger and bitterness pent up, it does seem to help the complexion.  My doctor told me to find out what things (like what foods, heat, etc.) are triggers and avoid those things.  In life, we can’t always avoid the stressors, but we can ask God in that moment for His grace and wisdom to show us the best way to proceed and answer life’s challenges and disappointments.  Also, in this biblical context, Job had sores all over his body.  To be without blemish would mean he had been healed.

“You will forget your misery; you will remember it as waters that have passed away.”Is this a promise from God that we will get past a terrible situation, either in this life or the next?  I know some trials in my life have eased in retrospect because God has revealed to me good that has come out of those circumstances, and there are great blessings I would not have received if I had not gone through a particular trial.  Trials mold us and I have often prayed that in the midst of a trial God would teach me how to go through a trial in a godly way.  (This is a daily struggle and I often fail because I let fear and anger trump prayer.)   When I am in the midst of suffering or those I love are suffering, it is so hard to get past the hopelessness.  We have to cling to God and His Word and keep picking up that Bible.

And your life will be brighter than the noonday; its darkness is like morning.  And you will feel secure, because there is hope; you will look around and take your rest in security.”Why is it when we lie down at night to rest all the giants of our problems rise up to taunt us? Oh, the blessedness of resting in peace at night instead of tossing and turning, overwhelmed by our fears.  And once we get restful nights again, what a difference it makes in our quality of life.  Refreshed, we can face our days and with God’s grace, face it well.

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About Cindy Bleuler Tucker

Hi! I'm Cindy, and I am a retired teacher, wife, and mother of a 20 year old. I am a Christian with great interest in living for the Lord in my daily life. My Christian worldview permeates every thing I do and say, at least when my sin doesn't get in the way! My family and friends are very important to me. I have a great interest in the Blble, moral issues, politics, books music, and popular culture. I love writing, going to church activities, swimming, and exercising. I have a personal interest in disability and adoption issues. I write devotionals, political commentary, reviews, poetry, and some fiction and I guess whatever I feel like. I guarantee you will not agree with me on everything. I welcome your constructive comments and hope we can have a great sharing of the minds.
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