I remember the old Popeye cartoon where he says “I’ve had all I can stands, and I can’t stands no more.” When his patience gets tested to the limits, he opens his can of Spinach for extra power and pounces on his opponents. And what a wonderful ending to the episode as he and Olive Oyl walk away hand in hand into the sunset.

How long can you stand trouble and heartache? How long will you hold onto your integrity? To what limits will you keep trusting God? Actually, we’ll never know till we get there!

Job said “…till I die I will not put away my integrity from me.” Sure, any one of us can say those words. But it’s different when it comes from Job. His integrity is the “tested” kind.

Suffering clearly tests your integrity. Tested integrity is genuine. Before God and before people, the genuineness of your integrity is clear. Those whose integrity is tested can be trusted.

Allow God to transform you through pain. We know that gold that’s tried in the fire comes out as pure gold.

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Make everyone else feel bad. Then, at least you’ll feel better than others.

Not really, but only in your mind. It’s sort of a mental adjustment due to your insecurity. Some verbalize this, but for many, it’s only a practice of the mind.

As soon as insecurity shows up, you think of something negative in them. It’s usually something in the past. But if you don’t know their past, you assume something based on their outward appearance.

The other option is for you to think “I’m not as bad as they are.” I’m in the “good” category. Or, at least the “not so bad” section of society. Not at all like others.

Now, I feel better.

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We have our personal ideas about God. The society also creates “images” of how God is. But he is not confined to our perceptions. He holds his own, and remains who he is. He is powerful, yet often chooses to be silent and subdued. His plans will work out without making a lot of noise.

For example, the least powerful and weakest little dogs make the most noise. The large powerful ones often choose to be silent. But they are there, watching silently, with great amounts of strength within.

In C. S. Lewis’ story, “The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe, Susan is intrigued by the Lion. “Aslan is a lion – the Lion, the great Lion.” “Ooh” said Susan. “I’d thought he was a man. Is he – quite safe? I shall feel rather nervous about meeting a lion” . . . “Safe?” said Mr. Beaver… “Who said anything about safe? ‘Course he isn’t safe. But he’s good. He’s the King, I tell you.”

Job said “Behold, these are but the outskirts of his ways, and how small a whisper do we hear of him! But the thunder of his power who can understand?” (Job 26:14)

In the midst of all your problems is he silent? Remember that he is not weak, but silently active and powerful.

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We know that nobody’s perfect. Yet among these imperfect people, some are declared “guilty” and others are declared “not guilty.” Their guilt is regarding a particular offense.

Job’s friends were trying to make sense of his sufferings. They reasoned that since people are not perfect (right/pure), Job must have done something to deserve his sufferings. They assumed that Job was guilty of some great offense. Otherwise, why would bad things happen to good people?

But Job insists that he is innocent. He doesn’t claim that he is perfect. That would be absurd. His claim is that he is innocent of whatever his friends claim that he has done to deserve this tragedy.

So in chapter 25, Job’s friend Bildad speaks up:

“How then can man be in the right before God? How can he who is born of woman be pure?”

So, yes, “Nobody’s perfect.” And Job says “I’m innocent.”

Bad things just happen. They happen to all people.

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Usually it’s not one great event that turned the person around. It’s a series of events, choices, commitments, and the daily discipline of obedience to the Holy Spirit.

Each of these are milestones in the overall direction of God’s will for your life. But all of them may not seem like they’re in that direction. In fact, you may be wondering what direction you’re headed.

Other milestones will clearly indicate a trajectory that’s in the direction you’re headed. These are nice, as they give you a sense of direction and purpose.

Some of these come as choices. This could be scary, as you’re afraid to make the wrong choice. It could lead you in the wrong direction leaving you to backtrack for months or years.

Whatever your situation, those milestones are crucial.

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God seems to be silent. Especially in the midst of tragedy and evil. We expect him to respond quickly when evil strikes. But no, there seems to be no response.
“From out of the city the dying groan, and the soul of the wounded cries for help; yet God charges no one with wrong (Job 24:12).
Doesn’t God care? It seems he is silent at the most crucial moments. As if he doesn’t care at all.
Job continues his rant about all the evil he has seen in society. One by one he lists each tragedy and points to the hopelessness he observed in society. And in the verse above, he makes a bold statement “yet God charges no one with wrong.”
Although God wasn’t the author of all that Job faced, he allowed it to happen. God has an ultimate, long-term plan that we are not aware of. The plan is not to destroy but to build. Our task is to remain faithful and to trust him.
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Then I suppose it wouldn’t matter if there is no sense of order. Maybe I would assume that lack of order is the appropriate order. Then I wouldn’t fight the “system” and try to create order in the midst of chaos.

I also wouldn’t worry about a lack of respect for fellow humans. It wouldn’t bother me that hatred is the way to win an upper hand. It would not bother me that violence is held in honor.

But I do know better. Jesus set the standard high. I can’t continue the way I’ve been going. Change has to begin in my personal life and then it has got to flow into my area of influence;

Things can’t continue the way it’s been going.

Yes. I know better.

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Or so it seems. It sounds so careless and aloof when he says “he who has ears, let him hear.”
I thought Jesus was full of mercy and compassion. I really thought he was driven by his compassion for those who are lost without direction for their lives.
But then I read the words “he who has ears to hear, let him hear.” This makes me wonder about his level of compassion. His words seem like an insensitive statement: “take it or leave it.” Several times during his teaching on crucial matters he says these words.
Jesus clearly realized that everyone will not accept his words. He wasn’t pushy about making people accept his teachings. They were to be accepted only by those whose hearts moved them. That’s why he said “he who has ears to hear let him hear. “
Although he wasn’t pushy, he was demanding (for those who accepted and followed). Jesus gave forgiveness of sins freely to those who believed in him. Yet he demanded total obedience. This was clearly not for everyone.
It’s only for those who have “ears to hear.”
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By now you’ve figured it out that it’s a given. Adversity is part of life as much as breathing is. It’s a fact that no one denies, and no one can escape.
But you may not have accepted the fact that on the other side of adversity, advancement awaits you. No, the purpose of adversity is not advancement. It just seems to follow adversity. It truly is the natural outcome of almost all adversity you will face.
So, should you seek adversity? No need. Just hang around and it will find you. But don’t fear. There’s advancement and acceleration on the other side of adversity.
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Being cool is definitely cool. And you want to be cool as often and as long as possible. Therefore, you would never think of sharing your weaknesses. In fact, your goal will be to hide your weaknesses.
But Paul said he will rejoice in his weaknesses. Now, that’s absurd. Ignoring, covering up, or even improving yourself are the common things you’d want to do. Yet there is a clear reason for Paul’s claim that he rejoices in his weaknesses.
For him, Christ is exalted and allowed to be in his rightful place. When Paul paints a clear and accurate image of himself, it is truly an image of weakness. Then only can Christ be allowed to do his awesome work.
The other reason is that you can quit faking it and be yourself. Of course, you don’t want to be obnoxious or rude. But you can be real. And the real you is the coolest form of you there is. By now you’ve figured it out that it’s a given. Adversity is part of life as much as breathing. It’s a fact that no one denies.
But you may not have accepted the fact that on the other side of adversity, advancement awaits you. No, the purpose of adversity may not be advancement. It just seems to follow adversity. It truly is the natural outcome of almost all adversity you will face.
So, should you seek adversity? No need. Just hang around and it will find you. But Don’t fear. There’s advancement and acceleration on the other side.
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