"It Isn't God I Don't Have Faith In, It Is The People"

Today was a reminder again to me of how we should listen for God's voice, obeying Him, and not passing judgement. Mike and I are having struggles in our life at the moment with finances. I never knew why we have always struggled and it seems to get worse at times. One of those times is right now. I can look back and thank Him for the struggles in the past now and see where He was working with showing us compassion for the poor and homeless so we would start this ministry. There is one thing that makes the struggle hard and that is when you get judged, put down, preached at, and just no support what so ever. When a person is going through these trials, they already are exhausted and weak. It isn't that they don't trust God and have faith in Him to provide. It isn't because they are doing something wrong. They may be doing everything they are suppose to be doing, but are you doing what God has called you to do? I was reminded of that very thing when my little boy pulled out the story of Job today and wanted me to read it. It was perfect timing for him to want that particular story read. It talked about how Satan wanted to get Job to worship him instead of God. He kept taking everything away from him, one at a time but pretty quick. He went through a lot. He had his nice home, his land, his money, his family, his health...everything was taken away. All the way through this, he kept praising God and never turned from Him. He wondered where God was at times, but never turned from God. The hardest and most aggravating thing that he probably went through though was when the people he was closest to started telling him that he had done something wrong. He had sinned. He wasn't living right. You need to do this and that. Why didn't they help him? Why didn't they encourage him? Why didn't they give him food? Why? Why didn't they let him stay with them? Why are we so quick to be so judgemental? I don't want to be like these friends. I want to be what Jesus asked us to be in loving one another and helping each other if it is at all possible. If you don't have a way of helping someone because you are strapped, then walk the road with them by finding some help for them. Don't just tell someone you will pray for them and then forget about it until you see them again. Pray for them and then check up on them. Don't just tell them to have faith, but encourage them and then ask God..."Is there something I am suppose to do to help?" People who are struggling are all around us. They may not be the ones who are in the wrong...we may be. Do you listen to God? When we have struggled, I've always said..." It isn't God who I don't have faith in to provide, it is the people". Take time to listen to God and then obey. He may be telling you to pray, give, or help someone that you don't even realize is struggling. It may be one of your closest friends or family member and you don't even know what is going on in their life because chances are they are too embarrassed to tell you or ashamed to ask for help. If we all listened to God's calling, would anyone need to ask for help? I don't know....just a thought. So, my thought today isn't that I am asking for anything from you, but I plead for you to start listening to God's call. Don't be like Job's friends. It isn't easy when you struggle whether it be physically, spiritually, financially, whatever. Don't be the one that knocks someone down. Be the one that lifts them up and put actions to your words.