His Encouragement #212

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Welcome to His Encouragement Thursday! I don’t know about you, but Thursdays are my struggle day of the week. By Thursday, I have already been working hard at school and at home, and I just wish it would hurry up and be Friday already. LOL! I definitely need a little extra Jesus time on Thursdays.

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I wish I were as in the old days, back in the times when God watched over me;

Job 29:2 (CJB)

In the past four years, I have lost my big brother, my step-father, my best friend, and by the time this posts, I may have lost my father. I have a friend at work who jokingly calls me “Jobette” because I seem to be the person really sad, bad things keep happening to.

As I type this, my dad is in a hospital 600 miles away from me dying. He has a whole host of issues: he’s 75, has stage 3 kidney failure, has liver cancer, and hydrocephalus. In addition to that, a family member gave him COVID (this person knew he was sick, but went to see my father anyway). My dad has been in the hospital for 11 days (so far). The doctor who was in charge of his case was fired for negligence because he refused to treat the COVID. Because of the hydrocephalus, the COVID virus went crazy and has basically destroyed my dad’s body. The last time I spoke with my two brothers who are with him, I was told that the nurses are seeing end-of-life behavior and things don’t look good.

I don’t tell you all this because I want sympathy or anything like that. I am Jobette. I am quite used to, unfortunately, the grief and sadness this world throws at a person, and feel like I now function on a different plane than most people. No, I tell you this because I really get where Job is coming from in Job 29:2. “I wish I were as in the old days…” the days when I had a big brother, a best friend, my step-dad, and my dad. Those beautiful days when they were whole and alive and happy. Those days when we had long talks, celebrations, and laughter. I wish I were as in the old days for sure.

Unlike Job, I don’t feel like God has abandoned me. I don’t know why God allows the things that He does, but I do know that God is the Boss and He is in charge of every single situation on this planet, including the care of and final moments of my aging, dying father. I don’t blame God, but I really do get Job’s longing for those days when things weren’t so bleak and sad and final.

It is not for us to question God’s timing or will. It is for us to hold on to Him through all times — the good, the bad, the boring — and trust. As Ecclesiastes 3:1 (CJB) states, “For everything there is a season, a right time for every intention UNDER HEAVEN” (my emphasis). Earth is under Heaven. We are under Heaven. God is above and sees all and knows all. He has a plan for all things in His good time. Every intention, every action that takes place on this earth is for a purpose. And in this really sad time, I choose to hold on to Jesus. I choose to not throw blame and anger His way, but to accept His plan and hold firmly to His promises and Word.

If you are able to, dear reader, please say a prayer for my brothers and me, especially my baby brother, Vinnie. He and my dad were the closest and this is hurting him deeply. And know, that if you are suffering this day, too, I am here to say a prayer for you. A prayer for guidance through your sorrow and that God’s strength will fill you this day.

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NOW, IT’S YOUR TURN!

WHAT BIBLICAL VERSE IS ENCOURAGING YOU TODAY?