<\/p>\n
\u201cThen his wife said to him, \u2018Do you now still mean to persist in your blamelessness? Curse God, and die.\u2019 \u2018That is how foolish women talk,\u2019 Job replied. \u2018If we take happiness from God\u2019s hand, must we not take sorrow too?\u2019 And in all this misfortune Job uttered no sinful word\u201d (Job 2:9,10 Jerusalem Bible).<\/p>\n
BOTH REVERENCE AND GRATITUDE MUST BE MAINTAINED DURING THE DAYS OF DARKNESS. God is not any less there when life is hard than when it is easy. This is an objective fact, regardless of what our feelings may indicate. The challenge is to discipline our feelings when necessary and maintain our faith in the face of hardship and doubt. Dark days need not be days of utter defeat.<\/p>\n
As one of the Lord\u2019s apostles, and having endured more than a few difficult days, Paul could say, \u201cWe are hard pressed on every side, yet not crushed; we are perplexed, but not in despair; persecuted, but not forsaken; struck down, but not destroyed; always carrying about in the body the dying of the Lord Jesus, that the life of Jesus also may be manifested in our body\u201d (2 Corinthians 4:8-10). To be \u201chard pressed\u201d doesn\u2019t mean that we have to be \u201ccrushed.\u201d We may be \u201cperplexed, but not in despair.\u201d<\/p>\n
To the church in Smyrna, Christ sent this message: \u201cDo not fear any of those things which you are about to suffer. Indeed, the devil is about to throw some of you into prison, that you may be tested, and you will have tribulation ten days. Be faithful until death, and I will give you the crown of life\u201d (Revelation 2:10).<\/p>\n
We simply must not allow the onset of pain in our lives to demolish our faith. Is it not a finer and nobler thing to believe when it\u2019s difficult than when it\u2019s easy? After all, it doesn\u2019t take much character or integrity to believe when God\u2019s reality is radiantly shining and all the obvious blessings are flowing our way. \u201cDo not even the tax collectors do the same?\u201d But when the clouds roll in, that is when people of real faith continue to honor God and thank Him for His goodness. When it must meet some significant test, that is when trust means the most. The value of faith doesn\u2019t really become obvious until there is some doubt to be dealt with.<\/p>\n
I praise Thee while my days go on;
I love Thee while my days go on:
Through dark and dearth, through fire and frost,
With emptied arms and treasure lost,
I thank Thee while my days go on.
(Elizabeth Barrett Browning)<\/p>\n
Gary Henry \u2013 WordPoints.com + AreYouaChristian.com<\/p>\n