My soul faints with longing for your salvation, but I have put my hope in your word. 82 My eyes fail, looking for your promise; I say, "When will you comfort me?" 83 Though I am like a wineskin in the smoke, I do not forget your decrees. 84 How long must your servant wait? When will you punish my persecutors? 85 The arrogant dig pitfalls for me, contrary to your law. 86 All your commands are trustworthy; help me, for men persecute me without cause. 87 They almost wiped me from the earth, but I have not forsaken your precepts. 88 Preserve my life according to your love, and I will obey the statutes of your mouth.

There are times in our lives when we are faced with situations that make us feel that God is not really listening to our prayer or attentive to our needs. It seems that we are left all alone and at the mercy of fate. Fatalism is brutal. When and if we add to that the evil intentions of some who would do us harm, it is enough to make us give up on a God who does not hear or respond to our pleas. Yet the Psalmist never doubted God or his ultimate response, even when he began to loose his patience. How long did Job suffer? We are not told how long but it was for an extended period of time. I am reminded of Moses who fled Egypt at the age of 40 and went from royalty in the greatest nation on earth to being a hired shepherd in a foreign country. How many times did he ask God why this was happening to him? How many times did he think that maybe he should have not taken the side of his Hebrew brethren that day? How many times did he wonder if God was really as real and caring as his mother had taught him? But for another 40 years, God was preparing him to become one of the great leaders of all time and to deliver God’s people from their bondage. God has work for you and for me to do in our day. We may not see it or know what it is now but if we will allow God to work in us, even when it is painful and seems unfair, we will probably one day see his wisdom demonstrated in our lives. But even if we as Job never understand the reason for our hardships we can know that God is present, he cares and he is working in our lives for our good if we will just open our hea rts to him and serve him.

O God, please increase my faith so that I can open my heart to your working in my life. Help me to be patient, to be loving and not bitter. Help me to be filled with the joy that only you can give and never be consumed with self pity or hatred. Help me to never quench your Spirit as he works in me. May he bear fruit in my life that I might become more like you each day. Give me peace that only you can give. I pray in the name of Jesus your Son and my savior; who loves me and gave himself for me.

May God bless each of us as we live for him today.