40 Days with Job – Day 22

Posted on October 26, 2014 by Dr. Logan's Blog

Day 22 – Chapter 22

“Is it because of your reverence that He reproves you, that He enters into judgment against you? Is not your wickedness great, and your iniquities without end” (22:4-5).

The inferences of Job’s so-called friends now turn to direct accusations of wrongdoing. These accusations are followed with an exhortation to confess and seek God’s mercy. As though his afflictions are not enough job has to contend with this foolishness. Yet through all of his afflictions Job did not quit, blame God or sin against Him. That does not mean however, that he did not feel like quitting. Job says, “Oh that my request might come to pass, and that God would grant my longing! Would that God were willing to crush me, that He would loose His hand and cut me off” (Job 6:8-9).

This is not an indication of any type of suicidal tendency on Job’s part, but rather a request he made to the Lord imploring Him to put him out of his misery. One can certainly understand Job’s misery. He lost his property, his children, the respect of wife, his health and now the empathy, compassion and respect of his friends. In his own words, he had become a by-word to his own people. People look at him as though he is getting justice for some unseen, unknown sin he has committed. He is in a miserable estate. It is not much of a problem to understand why he would make such a request. But let’s not be too hasty and overly spiritualize this, because Job represents you and me. His request was nothing more than an indication of the level of his frustration that rose to such a place that he was now willing to resign, give up the fight, throw in the towel, give up!

You may never have asked God to take you home. You may never have asked God to allow you to die. You may never have even had suicidal thoughts or tendencies, but I guarantee that you have wanted to quit something or someone at some point in your life. Now don’t misunderstand me, there are some things that perhaps need to be given up on. Those are the things that have grown out of our own selfishness, our own wisdom, our own ill-gotten schemes and desires. In other words, these are things that God has neither ordained nor blessed. But there are some things that you have wanted to quit that You know God ordained and it has been difficult to accomplish them. These are the things through which you need to persevere even as Job persevered. Whatever you do, don’t allow false accusations of the enemy, through whomever they may come, move you to give your confidence in God. Remember the promises of God, that are always Yea and Amen, and hold on, for God who called you is faithful.

Gracious God, show us Your mercy. Cover us when we are confronted by false accusations, particularly from our ‘friends.’ Remind us of Your faithfulness to us through every test and trial. Help us to block out the noise of ill-conceived counsel that serves only to distract us. Give us the ability to continually place our trust and confidence in you alone and to take our eyes off of our circumstances. Help us to be like Job who refused to give up or quit; and, like him, enable us to hold on until our change comes. Amen.

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40 Days with Job – Day 21

Posted on October 25, 2014 by Dr. Logan's Blog

Day 21 – Chapter 21

“Why do the wicked still live, continue on, also become very powerful? Their descendants are established with them in their sight, and their offspring before their eyes, their houses are safe from fear, and the rod of God is not on them. His ox mates without fail; his cow calves and does not abort. They send forth their little ones like the flock, and their children skip about. They sing to the timbrel and harp and rejoice at the sound of the flute. They spend their days in prosperity, and suddenly they go down to Sheol. They say to God, ‘Depart from us! We do not even desire the knowledge of Your ways. ‘Who is the Almighty, that we should serve Him, and what would we gain if we entreat Him?’ Behold, their prosperity is not in their hand; the counsel of the wicked is far from me” (21:7-16)

Job’s so-called friends have been contending that the wicked die prematurely (“His bones are full of his youthful vigor, but it lies down with him in the dust” 20:11), therefore, Job must be guilty of some wickedness for all he is suffering to have come upon him. Job now challenges these assertions by contending that not only do the wicked not die prematurely, they live and prosper. The sense of Job’s objection here is that not only do they live, but also it is God who allows them to live. In verses 7-16, Job strongly infers that God lets the wicked live happy lives, He does not punish them, and He takes care of them.

Job’s complaint is, of course, not new. Jeremiah asks, “Why has the way of wicked prospered? Why are all those who deal in treachery at ease” (Jeremiah 12:1b)? It is a continuing question for all those who walk committed lives before the Lord because it often appears that those who do not share their commitment prosper. This is a shell game, an illusion contrived by the enemy of our souls to frustrate and confuse us so that we will begin to envy the wicked and eventually go back on our commitment to the Lord. Asaph writes, “Surely God is good to Israel, to those who are pure in heart! But as for me, my feet came close to stumbling, my steps had almost slipped. For I was envious of the arrogant as I saw the prosperity of the wicked” (Psalm 73:1-3). Even Habbakuk gets in on the complaint when he writes, “Your eyes are too pure to approve evil, and You look not on wickedness with favor. Why do You look with favor on those who deal treacherously? Why are You silent when the wicked swallow up those more righteous than they” (Habbakuk 1:13)?

Do the wicked prosper more than the righteous? It seems clear that often they may, but what is less clear is how long God will continue to allow them to prosper. There is judgment to face for every person when we shall be called upon to give an account before God. Those who are wicked still will receive the due penalty for their sins. It might be frustrating to entertain such an answer while we are struggling and suffering as a consequence of our righteous and obedient lifestyle, but understand that God knows and sees all you endure and He will not allow you to be forsaken or to go begging for bread.

Father, forgive me for envying the wicked, for coveting their possessions, and for lusting after their lifestyles. Reassure me today that You see me, hear my humble cry, and reward of those who diligently seek You. Keep my thoughts and desires pure today. Amen.

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40 Days with Job – Day 20

Posted on October 24, 2014 by Dr. Logan's Blog

Day 20 – Chapter 20

“This is the wicked man’s portion from God, even the heritage decreed by God” (20:29).

Have you considered the wicked? They are the ones who know the will of God but in disobedience refuse to do it. They abound on every side and they are not just in the world. They also in the church; they are among the redeemed of the Lord. Their lot is not a happy one because they will soon reap the harvest of that which they have sown. Zophar’s words to Job are true, but misplaced. They are misplaced because he continues to operate on a false assumption, but we cannot afford to discount his words simply because they do not fit Job’s particular situation. Instead, we should take a step back and introspectively look at his words as they address wickedness. I admit it is not an easy task given the permissiveness of our generation, but it is well worth looking nonetheless.

Much of our western society, especially the church, could stand understand the punishment that awaits the wicked; and, though a contemporary church seeks to diminish or do away with altogether retributive justice that comes directly from God, we need to remember that our God is still a God of wrath. Far too many believers behave as though there are no consequences for their actions. They mirror and mimic what they see and hear in the world going about their business as though God does not really exist, or if He does, He does not mean what He says. The first twenty-eight verses in this chapter graphically detail the actions of the wicked and God’s response.

Zophar is not wrong in his analysis, but it simply does not apply to Job. It does apply to you and me. If we are going to be in relationship with the Lord it must show in how we live our lives. Like a marriage, we cannot limp between two different realities. A husband must be absolutely committed to his wife, and a wife to her husband. Anything less demonstrates a lack of commitment and leaves the door open for all sorts of ungodly behavior. Evening television sitcoms are entertaining and mirror some aspects of real life, but are always lacking because they only reflect the sensibilities and morality of the writer. But this is real life, disobedience and wickedness have dire consequences that may not be realized immediately, but they will come. If we understand the truth of this concept in our marriages, how much more so is true in our relationship with God? Though Zophar was off base with Job, let us look closely at ourselves today to make certain his words are off base with us as well.

Gracious heavenly Father, You are so awesome in all Your ways. Your standard of holiness is one we constantly strive to attain. Though we are weak and sinful, often unable to walk holy, we affirm Your intention for our lives. Forgive us today for every act of wickedness, whether in our actions, speech or thoughts. We surrender everything we are today to You and ask that, like the potter at his wheel, You mold and shape us according to Your will. Take the desire from us to be like the nations around us. Remove the taste from our mouths for the things of the world. Strengthen our will today that we may boldly say NO to unrighteousness and wickedness, and Yes to Your Word, will and way. We ask it all in Your matchless name, Jesus our Christ. Amen.

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40 Days with Job – Day 19

Posted on October 23, 2014 by Dr. Logan's Blog

Day 19 – Chapter 19

“Oh that my words were written! Oh that they were inscribed in a book! That with an iron stylus and lead they were engraved in the rock forever! As for me, I know that my Redeemer lives, and at the last He will take His stand on the earth. Even after my skin is destroyed, yet from my flesh I shall see God; whom I myself shall behold, and whom my eyes will see and not another. My heart faints within me! If you say, ‘How shall we persecute him?’ And ‘What pretext for a case against him can we find?’ Then be afraid of the sword for yourselves, for wrath brings the punishment of the sword, so that you may know there is judgment” (19:23-29).

After Bildad’s second harangue against him, Job now feels completely disrespected and insulted. His so-called friends refuse to back away from seeking to find some flaw in him as the reason why he is suffering in the manner that he. While Job has already attempted to express his dismay at their accusations and lack of compassion, he now begins to speak in such a way as to wonder why everything seems to be against him. I believe there comes a point in everyone’s life when they arrive at the place where their situation or circumstance even makes no sense to them.

Job looks around him and sees that his wife, extended family, friends, colleagues, and even servants have deserted him. No one wants to have anything to do with him. The afflictions in his body have so terribly disfigured him that he is barely more than a bag of bones, and it all seems to add up to the fact that it is God that has done this to him. There have been and there are times in my life when I begin to go beyond introspective questions wondering what I have done to cause my condition or what I could have done to avoid it; to questioning why God has done it or at the very least allowed it. Of course, in Job’s case we have the luxury of looking back and knowing that it was God who allowed it even though Job was innocent. Let me remind you of what you should already know; just as blessings are showered on the just and the unjust, trouble comes to the righteous and the unrighteous. Allow me to be more specific. Not only will the righteous experience trouble, it will exponentially increase the closer and more committed we are to the Lord.

Now I think I do a pretty good job of handling my little trials, but I cannot hold a candle to Job here. I grumble and complain about my little messes that are nothing compared to what Job experienced. I am tempted to stop praying, studying and worshiping in the midst of my prolonged storms overlooking the fact that I am simply playing into the enemy’s strategy. Job vents here, but note how he concludes, “I know that my Redeemer lives, and that at the last He will take His stand on the earth” (v.25). Job, in pain, frustrated, even anger continues to worship through his storm. I believe I will do the same. What about you?

Lord, this little praise song lingers in my spirit, “Daily I will worship Thee, Lamb of God who died for me. Who extended endless mercy, daily I will worship Thee.” Help me today to hold on to my worship through every test, every storm, every denial, every insult, every hurt and pain. Let me demonstrate an unyielding spirit and unflagging devotion so that unbelievers will know that You still sit on the throne. Amen.

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40 Days with Job – Day 19

Posted on October 22, 2014 by Dr. Logan's Blog

Day 18 – Chapter 18

“Then Bildad the Shuhite responded, ‘How long will you hunt for words? Show understanding and then we can talk. Why are we regarded as beasts, As stupid in your eyes? O you who tear yourself in your anger—for your sake is the earth to be abandoned, or the rock to be moved from its place? Indeed, the light of the wicked goes out, and the flame of his fire gives no light’” (18:1-5).

Wow! I almost don’t know where to begin with this chapter. Job’s so-called friends have been attacking him, his devotion to God, his integrity, even his honesty mercilessly and now after he has defended himself they are offended. Bildad speaks again, taking the offensive almost like having received the baton from a teammate in a relay race, and takes the attack to a new low. After registering his complaint over how he and his friend’s words have been received, he now, in a lengthy harangue, compares Job to those who are wicked. This is the man of whom God said, “For there is no one like him on the earth, a blameless and upright man, fearing God and turning away from evil” (1:8). It is simply not plausible to Bildad, Zophar, and Eliphaz that anyone could possibly suffer to the massive magnitude they see in Job unless they were receiving divine recompense for their wickedness. Therefore, Job must be wicked.

This difficulty with what Bildad has to say does not lay in his description of the wicked and what their lot shall one day be, but rather in his presumptuous application to Job’s plight. How often have we seen this same type of presumption in our churches today, or have even experienced it for ourselves from others, particularly from those from whom we least expect it? How many times have we seen people at the altar pouring their souls out before the Lord only to have some super saint assume that obviously something horrific is happening in their life? How many times have we heard people being gossiped about based on assumptions because of someone’s limited knowledge of their situation and circumstance? How often have you, perhaps, been the object of these false assumptions only to have people categorize you erroneously?

Clearly, the contemporary church needs to recapture a biblical understanding of what it means for someone to be considered wicked before God, but we must be careful that we do not fall into a judgment that is not only not our own to make, but that also puts us into a place of supposed righteousness that is equally false. Jesus cautioned his listeners to avoid pointing out the splinter in their brother’s eye while ignoring the plank in their own (Matthew 7:3). Yes, there will one day be recompense for the wicked. They will suffer the consequences for their sin, and in the interim it may seem that God is not just because they appear to get away with their wicked behavior, but payday is coming! Today, seek to avoid making sweeping judgments about others and look to your own righteousness, then leave the rest to God.

 

Gracious Father, forgive us today for our assumptions about our sister or brother. Forgive us for focusing more on the sin of others than on our own sin. Forgive us for supplanting Your sovereign position as though we had a heaven or hell to which we can consign people. Help us today to focus on our own salvation, recognizing that all of our righteousness is as filthy rags before, and to leave the rest to You. Amen.

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40 Days with Job – Day 17

Posted on October 21, 2014 by Dr. Logan's Blog

Day Seventeen – Chapter 17

“If I look for Sheol as my home, I make my bed in the darkness; if I call to the pit, ‘You are my father’; to the worm, my mother and sister’; where now is my hope? Will it go down with me to Sheol? Shall we together go down into the dust” (17:13-16)?

Hopelessness and despair continue to creep up on Job. Today we see in our text more evidences of it than before. He is despondent because he feels so alone. Even people that barely know him are publicly wondering what it is that has happened to him. The weight of despair just continues to grow. It is this growing sense of despair coupled with the belief that no one understands or really cares about one’s struggle that is so dangerous. Such inward emotional responses have the potential of provoking all sorts of dangerous reactions that in turn produce all manner of debilitating consequences.

If we are honest with ourselves today we are Job. Without experiencing anything close to what Job experienced we have been guilty of a myriad of responses to our circumstances, and some of them, maybe even many of them, have been negative; and so we can understand how Job feels. If you have been there then you know of the anger, frustration, hurt, and betrayal associated with your circumstances. You know the things you are tempted to say and do, and if you really love the Lord you are frightened that the tug in your flesh will supersede the jug on your spirit. It is in these moments that we need to draw all the more closer to our Savior because our circumstances will continue to illicit unsolicited advice and counsel, and though well intentioned, much of it will relate more to what the counselors/friends would do if in the same or similar situation than what we should do.

This is a very dangerous place to be. Be cautious of heeding counsel that does not sit well with your spirit. Stand strong! Hold on to your faith and your principles. Everyone will not understand, but everyone is not going through what you are. Job says in verse nine, “But principled people hold tight, keep a firm grip on life, sure that their clean, pure hands will get stronger and stronger” (The Message)! But at the same time be careful that you do not allow your hurt and pain to provoke you to sin against God. Trust His counsel acknowledging that His Word is true and that He cannot lie or go back on His Word.

Great and mighty God, You are awesome in all Your ways. You know well our trials. You know well the pain that afflicts us so profoundly. You know well the scorn and mockery of those who cannot understand what we are going through. You know well how lonely we feel because no one seems to care or understand. You know well our breaking point and our desire to avoid it. Help us today to know that while we may be lonely we are never alone. Help us to know that though we may not be able to see our way right now that You are working on our behalf nonetheless. Help us to worship You today and accept the mercy You continue to extend to us, in Jesus’ name. Amen.

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40 Days with Job – Day 16

Posted on October 20, 2014 by Dr. Logan's Blog

Day Sixteen – Chapter 16

“O earth, do not cover my blood, and let there be no resting place for my cry. Even now, behold, my witness is in heaven, and my advocate is on high. My friends are my scoffers; my eye weeps to God. O that a man might plead with God as a man with his neighbor! For when a few years are past, I shall go the way of no return” (16:18-22).

Eugene Peterson interprets these verses this way, “O Earth, don’t cover up the wrong done to me! Don’t muffle my cry! There must be Someone in heaven who knows the truth about me, in highest heaven, some Attorney who can clear my name—My Champion, my Friend, while I’m weeping my eyes out before God. I appeal to the One who represents mortals before God as a neighbor stands up for a neighbor. Only a few years are left before I set out on the road of no return.”

Wow! Aren’t you glad that we live in the port-resurrection era? Job pleads for an advocate, an attorney, someone that can plead his case before the Father in heaven. He needs someone because his friends have seemingly turned against him. It does not matter what he says, they have arrived at their own conclusions that all end in agreement; he is the problem. His cry, then, can be clearly understood. Who will defend his cause and who will clear his name.

John tells us “if anyone sins, we have an Advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous . . .” (1 John 2:1b). We need an attorney because our enemy, the devil, stands before the Father to bring accusation against us much in the same way that Job’s so-called three friends bring accusation against him; and just like the devil they are ruthlessly aggressive in their attacks. When we find ourselves backed up against the wall we have the confidence that our elder brother will advocate for us. That is good news for all of us, but especially for those who find themselves laboring under the burden of trouble and trial. Your friends will fail you. They will misunderstand you and misinterpret your actions. They may even desert you at the most inopportune times in your life when you need your friends the most. Rest assured that your elder brother never will leave you defenseless. His promises are sure and you can count upon Him.

Dear Father, thank you for sending us Your one and only Son. Thank you for allowing Him to bear our sins in His body on the cross so that by His sacrifice we might be pronounced innocent. Thank you for the assurance that when we stand before You and the enemy of our souls, the accuser of the brethren, brings accusation against us you will be there to plead our case. Enable us to confidently walk in that assurance today. Amen.

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40 Days with Job – Day 15

Posted on October 19, 2014 by Dr. Logan's Blog

Day Fifteen – Chapter 15

“Then Eliphaz the Temanite responded, ‘should a wise man answer with windy knowledge and fill himself with the east wind? Should he argue with useless talk, or with words which are not profitable? Indeed, you do away with reverence and hinder meditation before God. For your guilt teaches your mouth, and you choose the language of the crafty. Your own mouth condemns you, and not I; and your own lips testify against you’” (15:1-6).

Though Job does not sin or blame God, nothing of what he has said has made any difference to Eliphaz. Eliphaz is seemingly determined to drive home his point that Job must be guilty and even suggests that Job’s own words prove it. I don’t think there is anything more annoying to me than a person more entrenched in their particular perspective that anything said only serves to prove their point. Rather than seeing any flaw in either their perspectives or even their actions, every word is confirmation that they are in the right. Eliphaz fits comfortably into this behavior. His critique of Job is so irreverent that he arrogantly accuses Job of expelling “windy knowledge.”

It is difficult to hold on to your confidence when everyone around you sees only fault in you. It is exhausting to have to continually defend yourself against baseless actions, but sometimes in order to press your way through whatever situation in which you find yourself that is precisely what you may have to do. One of the things I learned long ago is that there is always a certain amount of truth in every criticism, so in your defense affirm the truth in the criticism while avoiding being argumentative. It is a skill called ‘fogging.’ One simply affirms whatever shred of truth in the criticism they can without engaging in any kind of debate. It sounds simple, but it is difficult because doing so means crucifying your flesh and getting past your ego. No one likes to critique particularly when they are confident of the lack of fault and blame on their part, and as consequence our normal reaction to criticism is simply to react.

Today change your way of responding. Try ‘fogging’ instead. If they dislike your attire affirm the truth that you could have always wore better clothing. It will completely disarm them, diffuse the situation, and enable you to silence your critics without either agreeing or arguing with them. Try it; it works.

Dear Lord, there are days when people really bother me. Though they believe they are being helpful, I find them insensitive, unkind and even disrespectful. My first inclination is to give in to my flesh and argue which only inflames the situation and adds to my suffering. Teach me today to diffuse those situations that have the potential of turning ugly. Give me the resources to positively control my anger so that rather than grieving Your heart and wounding my witness, I bring honor and glory to your name. This I humbly ask in the name of Jesus. Amen.

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40 Days with Job – Day 14

Posted on October 18, 2014 by Dr. Logan's Blog

Day Fourteen – Chapter 14

“Man, who is born of woman, is short-lived and full of turmoil. Like a flower he comes forth and withers. He also flees like a shadow and does not remain. You also open Your eyes on him and bring him into judgment with Yourself. Who can make the clean out of the unclean? No one! Since his days are determined, the number of his months is with You; and his limits You have set so that he cannot pass. Turn Your gaze from him that he may rest, until he fulfills his day like a hired man. If a man dies, will he live again? All the days of my struggle I will wait until my change comes” (14:1-6, 14).

Can you hear the frustration in Job’s words? He has ceased debating for the moment with these ‘friends,’ and begins now to direct his words toward God just as he said he would do in the previous chapter. His frustration is palpable even as your own would be had you been through what he has been through. What he cannot understand is why it seems to be continuing. His plea is for an end to his suffering or at least a rest from it, but as it stands it is the gift that keeps on giving. He understands that turmoil is a part of life but this is too much. He would rather be buried alive than to continue to suffer in this manner. But even as he speaks about the finality of death, in stark contrast to his current experience, he refuses to turn his back on God. In fact, his attitude is quite the opposite.

There are those times for you and me when it appears that the end of whatever we are going through is nowhere near. There are even those times when it appears that more and more is being piled on top of whatever we experience making the suffering more intense and painful. Like Job we wonder why there seems to be some type of relief, some type of restoration for others, even for parts of creation but nothing for us. If we are not careful we risk slipping so deeply into self-pity that we lose ourselves.

What do we do when life has pronounced itself so powerfully in our lives? The answer lays in what Job did. In verse fourteen he declares that he is going to wait until his change comes. Eugene Peterson, in The Message, puts it this way, “All through these difficult days I keep hoping, waiting for the final change—for resurrection!” Our confidence, our hope is not in our circumstances or in anything else but the Lord, particularly when you know the promises that He has made in your life. If God’s Word is true then He cannot lie. Whatever He promised will come to pass, we have to wait actively hoping and trusting that we will come through. Don’t throw away your confidence. Keep hoping and trusting in God and see Him bring you through!

O Heavenly Father, You are so awesome in all Your ways that no one can fathom what You do or what You allow. You have always brought us through dangers, seen and unseen, and we know that You can and will bring us through our present struggles. Give us the strength and the courage to face this hour and to wait until our change comes. We marvel at Job’s strength of character and grieve that we are not more like him. Help us to be true to whom You have made us. Help us to persevere so that we can be a witness to others and bring glory and honor to Your name. Amen.

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40 Days with Job – Day 13

Posted on October 17, 2014 by Dr. Logan's Blog

Day Thirteen – Chapter 13

“ Be silent before me so that I may speak; then let come on me what may. Why should I take my flesh in my teeth and put my life in my hands? Though He slay me, I will hope in Him. Nevertheless I will argue my ways before Him. This also will be my salvation, for a godless man may not come before His presence. Listen carefully to my speech, and let my declaration fill your ears. Behold now, I have prepared my case; I know that I will be vindicated. Who will contend with me? For then I would be silent and die.”(vs. 13-19)

The writer of Proverbs offers the following counsel, “Without consultation, plans are frustrated, but with many counselors they succeed” (15:22); “Listen to counsel and accept discipline, that you may be wise the rest of your days” (19:20); and, “Oil and perfume make the heart glad, so a man’s counsel is sweet to his friend” (27:9). It is good sound counsel as long as you seek it from the right source. Three of Job’s friends have offered their counsel and advice to this point in the narrative, but Job now repudiates it as ‘proverbs of ashes.”

It occurred to me that it is critically important that we seek godly counsel, but that we are also to be very discerning about to whom we go and in whom we confide. It also occurred to me that we are often guilty of two things that are actually polar extremes. We rely too much on the counsel and advice of others or we ignore it altogether. The truth of the matter is that regardless of how sincere the counsel we receive or the counsel we give may be, it is always given through the filter of what we know, either from our personal experience or from what we have read and studied. But we are not carbon copies of one another. We are special and unique just as God made us, so all counsel must take into account our unique situations. One size does not fit all.

If you reread the words of Eliphaz, Bildad, and Zophar you will notice three separate and distinct perspectives, inferences, and even accusations. They are all three friends with the same man, presumably whom they have known for some time, and they respond sincerely but very differently as though speaking to different person. Job’s response to them is, therefore, understandable and his solution noteworthy; he takes his case directly to God without overly spiritualizing it, ready to suffer the consequences he believes might come with questioning and debating; but also, affirming that regardless of how God responds, he will yet hope in Him. Such should be our response when we go through. God can handle our questions, our debates, frustration, anger and pain. He knows all about it anyway. So seek the counsel of godly friends, but more importantly take your case to God. I affirm today with Job, “Behold now I have prepared my case; I know that I will be vindicated” (v. 18).

Dear heavenly Father, We thank You again today for our friends and their love and concern for us. But we are even more thankful that we can bring our cares and concerns directly before You and that You will incline Your ear and hear our prayer. You alone know the depths of pain and sorrow, grief and loss we suffer. Help us to know of Your vindication so that holding our heads high we may go through and not under, in Jesus’ mighty precious name we pray. Amen.

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