Walking under dark clouds

" Darkness
 is all around me,

thick, impenetrable
darkness is everywhere." - Job 23:17 NLT

When I read this verse, for some reason I could literally see a man walking and looking up at the dark clouds above him. It was Job. And for some reason, I started to cry. When we are at a place of hurting and feeling alone, we do feel like we are walking under dark clouds. Oh poor Job.

This man felt like God was not with him. In verse 3, he said, " If only I knew where to find God." Oh Job, I can so relate to what you say. When we are struggling and hurting, we sometimes do wonder and ask, "God, where are you?"  I believe in my heart, that is what Job wanted to know. He was willing to go to God's court and present his arguement.

How many times would this man have to do that? Job was saying that his suffering would be more bearable if he knew why it was happening. If there was a sin for which he had to repent of, he would. I am reminded of when I was a little girl and i was blamed for doing something wrong, I would say over and over again, " I didn't do! I didn't do it!" I wonder if that is what Job was wanting to tell God, " I didn't do it Father! I didn't do it!" I still do not understand the patience that Job had through out this difficult and heart breaking time in his life. I would have developed alot of anxiety. No matter what he was feeling and walking through, he feared God, acknowledged His power, and he maintained his integrity. Even though he felt at the moment that God was not there with him, he did not lift his arms up and say, " Okay God, I'm out of here!" He continued to walk through the fire and under the dark clouds. I know that this man will one day see God's light shining through the dark clouds. And that right there gives me hope that one day I will look up and no longer be under dark clouds.

I dont know why, but i wanted to share this thought!!

Written by Liz Chavez