Recently I've been feeling rather afflicted.
Now I could rehearse all the travails I've had in recent months,
but I won't.
Let's just say, I was starting to feel like Job.


In fact, think about Job for a moment.
Here's a man who really hadn't done anything to deserve
what happened to him.
So why did it happen?


Job was tested!
God allowed
Satan to afflict Job.
And the test was to determine, or actually prove,
how Job would respond.


Now sometimes a dictionary helps.
Afflicted, to be cast down....
Hmmm, seems I remember that phrase.

Psalms 40-44, especially Psalm 42 are about being cast down. Go read those if this seems to be hitting home to you.

It is natural for us to become downcast when we are afflicted.
Certainly Job felt that way towards the end of his trial.
But what is it we are to do, what do we need to see.
Well this is the corollary of the Been Thumped Lately message.
Talk to your soul!
Keep asking your soul,
why are you down cast?
Is God no longer God?
Are you going to dwell on your own misery (which all men deserve)
OR are you going to instead look at God and His marvelous works.


I see John, Peter, Paul, David, even Jesus.
And I am in chains with them, singing...
Praise God, Praise God, Praise God!


What do you see, the chains or the praise of God?
This will determine
how you fair in Job's test.