I can't feel nor see You

Gegevens: Hits: 563

WHERE ARE YOU?

We all probably have to face periods in our lives during which God seems to be far away. Anyway I do sometimes and I am happy that it doesn't happen to often. But always after such a period I realise and have to acknowledge that God never really was far away.

Job 23: 8 "But if I go to the east, He is not there; if I go to the west, I do not find Him. 9 When He is at work in the north, I do not see Him; when He turns to the south, I catch no glimpse of Him.

10 But He knows the way that I take; when He has tested me, I shall come forth as gold. 11 My feet have closely followed His steps; I have kept to His way without turning aside. 12 I have not departed from the commands of His lips; I have treasured the words of His mouth more than my daily bread."

Today I have read this intriguing part of the story of Job. Job who lost his property, his family and his health. Job who was a faithful worshiper of the Lord. How would I feel when that happened to me?

Looking at the life of Job we can not ignore the fact that he really was following the Lord and at the same time it felt for him as if God had no interest in him at all and as if God was completely ignoring him and the problems he was facing. Look for instance at verse 8 and 9.

But in verse 10 he jumps onto a completely different attitude!

Despite all these feelings, he acknowledges that God knows his life and knows his steps. He acknowledges also: God is testing me and this will help me to be 'refined', to be a better person!

This story encourages me to hold on to Him and to persevere in following Jesus. It encourages me also to read His word again and again ("I have treasured the words of His mouth more than my daily bread.").

And remember: When your faith is tested, your faith will be strenthened! God bless you! Then you will not have questions like: Where are You? Then we will have the certainty that God is always present.

Then I will KNOW He will never forsake or leave me, as Job acknowledged in the end!!

Mijn gegevens

Ik (Jan) ben 80 jaar en ruim 56 jaar getrouwd met Aukje. Samen hebben we 4 kinderen, 1 zoon en 3 dochters en 12 kleinkinderen (8 kleinzoons en 4 kleindochters en 3 achterkleinkinderen).

Sinds 1983 is Jezus de belangrijkste persoon in mijn leven. Sindsdien zijn we actief in onze kerk en hebben we ook 4 jaar in de zending in Nepal gewerkt. Nepal is daardoor ook een beetje ons 2e vaderland geworden, we proberen elk jaar naar Nepal te gaan voor een bezoek van ca 3 weken.

De plaatjes bovenaan hebben de volgende achtergrond:

De eerste is van het hospitaal kerkschip de Hoop. Mijn opa is bijna 25 jaar kapitein op deze zeilschoener geweest.

De tweede is van s.s. Amerskerk. Op dit schip heb ik in 1966 mijn eerste reis als 4e stuurman gemaakt.

De derde is van een ondiepwater-mijnenveger, in mijn Marinetijd ben ik hierop 2 jaar oudste officier geweest.

De vierde is het kruis waaraan Jezus gestorven is voor onze (en dus ook mijn) fouten.

De vijfde is het logo van de stichting Hope for Nepal, met deze stichting ondersteunen we kerken en projecten in Nepal. In Nepal ligt nog steeds een stukje van ons hart!