Present in our Suffering

How often do you find yourself in a tight spot, a place of irritation, possibly even a place of suffering?  You can't imagine why God is allowing this (think of Job), or what good can possibly come from it.  Why, in fact, does God not seem to be answering, even hearing, your prayers?  

Elisabeth Elliot has some good words for us today in her daily devotion A Lamp Unto My Feet:  "The Lord who loves [us] suffered and wants [us] to fellowship with Himself.  The joy of thus knowing Him comes not in spite of but because of suffering, just as resurrection comes out of death." (Italics Elisabeth's) 

In suffering, we meet with God on different terms: we need Him desperately and know it.  Job helps us out here with words that should be often on our lips:  "I know that my Redeemer lives, and at the last he will stand upon the earth" (Job 19:25).  

Do you know today that your Redeemer lives, that He has redeemed you from the wrath of God and will redeem you to a future with Him in glory?  He calls us to come to Him as we suffer, and to rest in Him, and to know Him.  (See Matthew 11:28-30.)