I was cleaning the bathroom when I received the text from my dad. He was responding to a request I made for him to babysit the kids one evening. He traveled for work and, so, I never knew when he would be in town.
I looked at my phone and read the text. It won’t be a problem for me to babysit. I’ve just been laid off.
Immediately, I was sick to my stomach. At that point in time, my mom was still on medical leave from work recovering from cancer surgery where they had removed one of her kidneys. I had watched my parents bravely battle cancer for nine months with unwavering faith. And now this.
I remember crying in the shower and yelling at God. “What are you doing to them?” 
I believe this is where we find Job in chapter six. He has lost so much. He is enduring such pain. So, he cries out to God.
Is my strength the strength of stones, or is my flesh bronze? – Job 6:12
How strong do you think I am, God? That is what Job is asking. How strong do you think I am?
Maybe this is your question of the day, too. If so, there is an answer.
He remembers that we are dust. – Psalm 103:14
God knows exactly what we are made of because he did the making. If you are studying your current struggle and trying to see if you are strong enough, you are focusing on the wrong source of strength. You do not need to have the strength of stones to endure. You just need a strong tower to run to and be safe (Proverbs 18:10.)
In the midst of suffering, Satan will whisper, You’re not strong enough.
In the face of suffering, Faith says, I know, but he is.
~~~
For the introductory post to this series, as well as an ongoing index of all the posts, just click here. —> 31 Days of Faith
Well, remember my message on FB recently about the biopsies/mammogram? A couple of weeks after that I had another melanoma removed (my fourth). Plus, we had to put my indoor cat of 16 1/2 years to sleep a week after that. A few days after I got the call on the melanoma and had my day or two of worry and texting friends to PLEASE PRAY because I wasn’t feeling the peace I normally do and I’m not usually a worrier, I decided that for every “bad” thing happening in my life I am going to think of three good things BECAUSE OF that bad thing. Not just three regular old good things but things in relation. They weren’t as hard as I thought they would be. For my melanoma it was 1) thank the Lord they caught it early AGAIN (and this was the deepest and quickest growing I’ve had yet), 2) it gave me an opportunity to show my peace and joy despite the circumstances with my doctor who I don’t think is a believer and 3) I was reminded how precious life is and to live it as such! Satan tried whispering in my ear because I know he hates it when we have faith in circumstances like this (and things you’ve been through as well as Lot), but I praise the Lord for his strength, comfort, peace and feeling the prayer of others. I don’t know if I could say that I have “felt” others prayers before like I did those few days when I asked for a handful of friends to pray.
Okay, end of book….. 😀
I love your spirit – I really do. When we only focus on the trial, we miss the blessings we receive – not in spite of – but BECAUSE of the trial. What a great perspective and lesson! Thank you!