When It Gets Personal And Painful

ENGLISH

Then Satan answered the Lord and said, “Skin for skin! All that a man has he will give for his life. But stretch out your hand and touch his bone and his flesh, and he will curse you to your face.” — Job 2:4-5

So Satan lost round one big time. It was a bit of an embarrassment for him. But we discover here that Satan doesn't give up easily. He's not a quitter. In fact, he will not stop tormenting creation until the day God banishes him to Hell. Till then, he is free to walk and roam the earth. And because Satan acts in his nature, which is in rebellion with God, he will do anything to create chaos in God's created order. He will use physical suffering as a means to persuade humanity to act in rebellion with God.

So round two gets a lot more personal. Satan asks for permission to attack Job's flesh and inflict physical pain. Now, this is a lot more personal. It's not just emotional pain like we saw in round one. Round two is about causing a skin infection that ignites the nerve endings of his body.

I believe Satan chooses this means of suffering because he knows we have a preference for comfort. And he knows that comfort is often the reason we are driven to God. We come to God to seek the comforts of salvation from pain caused by sin. And as we come, God saves us. He saves us from our sin and eternal suffering. But salvation from temporal pain is not guaranteed in this life. It's not guaranteed until that last day. So Satan uses temporal pain to sway disbelief in God and the comforts of his salvation. He essentially uses discomfort to get us to question a comforting God. And for some, this results in disbelief.

So today, if you are encountering physical and personal pain, don't let a desire for temporal comfort drive you from spiritual comfort in God. Temporal pain of any kind — like a torn tendon, a broken bone, aching joints, skin disease, or even cancer is only a reminder that one day God will give us new bodies. The apostle Paul said this:

Behold! I tell you a mystery. We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed, in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet. For the trumpet will sound, and the dead will be raised imperishable, and we shall be changed. For this perishable body must put on the imperishable, and this mortal body must put on immortality. — 1 Corinthians 15:51-53

ASK THIS: What temporal pain are you suffering, and how is it causing you to question the comfort of God? (Share this in the comments below).

DO THIS: Standfast in belief about the spiritual comforts promised by God and the eventual resurrection of a new body.

PRAY THIS: God, be glorified in me.

PLAY THIS: Be Glorified.

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37 thoughts on “When It Gets Personal And Painful

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  7. Cory Baron says:

    Lower back pain that has been going on for several years now. Today is pain free though.

  8. Eddie Ackerman says:

    exhaustion from lack of sleep. being a parent of a new child, even though this is my 4th one, is always a difficult transition. one of the hardest things is that babies really only have two modes of communicating, crying and/or screaming or happy cooing. now, being an experienced parent, i know this is temporary, but this time of transition is rough, and is only compounded by my wife’s work schedule, where I have to wake up roughly 3 hours earlier than I would like to help her get ready for work.

  9. Dennis James says:

    Thank you Vince, this is a message I needed. As I suffer at times , more often than I like, with arthritis that the pain makes it difficult to walk, I try to remember that God has a plan and in my weakness He is strong. Physical pain along with at times, anxieties , I walk through the pain , focusing on Jesus. Pain is my weakness leaving my body.

  10. Rex Wright says:

    My wife suffers from arthritis rheumatoid arthritis. We are trying to believe God for “His sprung lived out in her.

    • Dennis James says:

      I suffer from arthritis and at times it makes it painful to walk, but rest assured that Jesus is with your wife. I found that focusing on God’s word and prayer gets me through the difficult times. I will pray for you and your wife.

  11. Alex Coon says:

    I guess for me it’s the reduction of my community that COVID imposed. I’ve struggled to find healthy friendships through much of my life and I only got the full taste of a local Christian community for a year and a half, Satan and COVID made it pretty personal.

    But not only do I have got a new semester of small groups coming up but the faith and knowledge God will liberate us from the pandemic.

  12. Lynn says:

    Physical suffering of my wife Linda of 47 years. My friend Wayne suffering through 7 years of lung cancer and now kidney cancer.

  13. Sam says:

    I look around me and even with all the physical afflictions I have I feel blessed that there are at least some relief, I see many and am saddened for those that have no escape from their pain.

  14. Lance says:

    My pain is financial, I work daily in my own business helping to protect families. I treat people with respect even though they get mad at me. I try to do the right thing, but still struggle to get my business on the right track. I feel like God does not want me to succeed…although I know deep done inside, God does not bring evil on me…that is my struggle & pain.

    • Chris says:

      I have felt the same before. I am talented, educated, creative and have traveled all over paying for my college and my wedding. There were times in the past that I thought how am I not successful? I am 51 and I still rent. That has been a lot to stomach. I just got Baptized and I feel I just need to stay the course no matter how long and how in the dark I am.

    • Dennis James says:

      Brother, I found that my struggles were more difficult when my focus was blurred. What I mean is that I needed to re calibrate my focus, When we put God first , the struggles are more tolerable. His Word tells us to Seek FIRST the Kingdom of God and His righteousness , and all these things will be added to you. Matthew 6:33. Emphasis on seeking God first. I personally start my day with God First and my day is better, when I don’t , I have a bad day. Hope this helps. God bless

  15. Rusty Moore says:

    The devil thought stage 4 lung cancer would slow me down. Nope so now he is attacking my heart. I am in real pain in ICU about to have my 4 th heart cathe. I have 4 stents now. The pain is so bad that medicine is barely cutting it. Please pray for me. Pray that someone will here my testimony as I talk to people about being a walking miracle.

    • Ken McClatchey says:

      Lord Jesus, I lift up my brother in prayer – I pray he is reassured that your word does not return void, we may not see the harvest but we have the assurance that some plant, some water but you cause the growth. Rusty, rest in the promise that you will hear “well done faithful servant”.

    • Steve George says:

      Rusty, I am and will continue to lift you up. Be encouraged that our great high priest Jesus himself is calling your name before the Father.

    • Taylor says:

      I am praying for healing and recovery for you! Praying for doctors and nurses with clear focused minds and steady hands! God still has you, he will not give you more then you can’t handle. Stay strong, keep spreading your story!

    • Nick says:

      Praying for you my friend. God is with you and beside you. He gives your soul Peace.

    • Kwena Nokeri from South Africa says:

      I pray for your strength, the devil is a liar. The pain is temporal but the LOVE of GOD is everlasting

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