God's Presence: Our Ultimate Preservation
Job 10:12
Thou hast granted me life and favor, and thy visitation hath preserved my spirit.
Indeed, prior to Job’s great trial, he HAD experienced the best that life had to offer. God had blessed him in all he set his hands to. He had not only the double blessing of both life AND favor from God, but also the very visitation of God’s presence which was essential for the preservation of his spirit, enabling him to enjoy his blessings by maintaining the right perspective. However, Job soon quickly learned that even when life was not at its best, and when the favor of God he was used to seemingly ceased to be, yet God’s preserving presence sustained his spirit through it all. We learn then through Job’s example that with or without health, wealth, and prosperity, we can truly only survive when God visits us and preserves our spirits with His presence and His presence alone!
As the old song says, “Without Him, I can do nothing. Without Him, I’d surely fail. Without Him, I would be sailing like a ship without a sail!” Often I have found myself in moments of confusion and despair, wondering where God was, for Him simply to say to me, “Here I am!” He is always near! He may not always be felt, and we may not always hear His voice, but we have that promise as children of God that He will never leave us nor forsake us! For this reason, we must declare even in the midst of our trial that “thy visitation hath preserved my spirit.” The very fact that you survived and are still alive is a testimony to the fact that God did not abandon you!
Sure, it may have gotten very dark and lonely. Sure, you may have felt at times like you were a million miles away from God. But regardless, you are still here! Grace has brought you safe thus far, and yes, Grace WILL lead you home. Be encouraged, Child of God! God is not through with you yet. Your troubles did not come to crush you, but to create you. That’s right! God is making a brand new you out of this. You may not see it now, but when you come out of this, you will look back and see God’s handy work all over your situation, and then you will learn what a beautiful work God wrought in your heart and life. Even if you have to do it solely on faith alone, without any feeling behind it whatsoever, just make a choice today to rejoice that His presence has preserved you!
~ Pastor Gary Caudill
Thou hast granted me life and favor, and thy visitation hath preserved my spirit.
Indeed, prior to Job’s great trial, he HAD experienced the best that life had to offer. God had blessed him in all he set his hands to. He had not only the double blessing of both life AND favor from God, but also the very visitation of God’s presence which was essential for the preservation of his spirit, enabling him to enjoy his blessings by maintaining the right perspective. However, Job soon quickly learned that even when life was not at its best, and when the favor of God he was used to seemingly ceased to be, yet God’s preserving presence sustained his spirit through it all. We learn then through Job’s example that with or without health, wealth, and prosperity, we can truly only survive when God visits us and preserves our spirits with His presence and His presence alone!
As the old song says, “Without Him, I can do nothing. Without Him, I’d surely fail. Without Him, I would be sailing like a ship without a sail!” Often I have found myself in moments of confusion and despair, wondering where God was, for Him simply to say to me, “Here I am!” He is always near! He may not always be felt, and we may not always hear His voice, but we have that promise as children of God that He will never leave us nor forsake us! For this reason, we must declare even in the midst of our trial that “thy visitation hath preserved my spirit.” The very fact that you survived and are still alive is a testimony to the fact that God did not abandon you!
Sure, it may have gotten very dark and lonely. Sure, you may have felt at times like you were a million miles away from God. But regardless, you are still here! Grace has brought you safe thus far, and yes, Grace WILL lead you home. Be encouraged, Child of God! God is not through with you yet. Your troubles did not come to crush you, but to create you. That’s right! God is making a brand new you out of this. You may not see it now, but when you come out of this, you will look back and see God’s handy work all over your situation, and then you will learn what a beautiful work God wrought in your heart and life. Even if you have to do it solely on faith alone, without any feeling behind it whatsoever, just make a choice today to rejoice that His presence has preserved you!
~ Pastor Gary Caudill