OUR DAILY BREAD : UNCLEAR VISION

[cimi]

WEDNESDAY OCTOBER 7


UNCLEAR VISION

READ:
Job 42:5
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My ears had heard
of you but now
my eyes have
seen you.
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My friend Meaghan is an accomplished equestrian, and I've been learning some interesting things about horses from her. For instance, despite having the largest eyes of all land mammals, horses have poor eyesight and can see fewer colors than humans. Because of this, they can't always identify objects on the ground. When they see a pole, they don't know if its' a pole they can easily step over or a large snake that might harm them. For this reason, until they are properly trained horses are easily frightened and quick to run away.

We too may want to run from alarming circumstances. We may feel like Job who misunderstood his troubles and wished he'd never been born. Since he couldn't see that it was Satan who was trying to break him down, he feared that the Lord, in whom he had trusted, was trying to destroy him. Overwhelmed, he cried out, "God has wronged me and drawn his net around me" (JOB 19:6).

Like Job's vision, ours is limited. We want to run away from the difficult situations that scare us. From God's perspective, we are not alone. He understands what confuses and frightens us. He knows we are safe with Him by our side. This is our opportunity to trust His understanding rather than our own. __________Anne Cetas

**In what ways have you doubted God's goodness?
How have you seen Him working in your life
during a difficult time?
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Trusting God's faithfulness dispels our fearfulness.

***************************************Today's Bible Reading __ Job 19:1-21*****************************
1 Then Job replied:

2 "How long will you torment me and crush me with
words? 3 Ten times now you have reproached me;
shamelessly you attack me. 4 it is true that I have
gone astray, my error remains my concern alone. 5 If indeed
you would exalt yourselves above me and use my humiliation
against me, 6 then know that God has wronged me and drawn
his net around me.

7 "Though I cry, 'Violence!' I get no response; though I call
for help, there is no justice. 8 He has blocked my way so I cannot
pass; he has shrouded my paths in darkness. 9 He has stripped
me of my honor and removed the crown from my head. 10 He
tears me down on every side till I am gone; he uproots my hope
like a tree. 11 His anger burns against me; he counts me among
his enemies. 12 His troops advance in force; they build a siege
ramp against me and encamp around me tent.

13 "He has alienated my family from me; my acquaintances
are completely estranged from me. 14 My relatives have gone
away; my closest friends have forgotten me. 15 My guests and
my female servants count me a foreigner; they look on me
as on a stranger. 16 I summon my servant, but he does not
answer, though I beg him with my own mouth. 17 My breath is
offensive to my wife; i am loathsome to my own family. 18 Even
the little boys scorn me; when I appear, they ridicule me.

19 All my intimate friends detest me; those I love have turned
against me. 20 I am nothing but skin and bones; I have escaped
only by the skin of my teeth.

21 "Have pity on me, my friends, have pity, for the hand of
God has struck me."