I think I heard it on the old show Hee Haw, “I never repeat gossip, so listen close the first time!” It is said that if you don’t want everyone to know your secret don’t tell it to anyone, everyone has one special friend they trust and so on and so on, then the whole world knows what you meant for and wanted only one person to hear! Nothing feels worse than being betrayed by someone you love, a friend. Betrayal is rampant in every area, from politicians and preachers to friends. What are we supposed to do when attacked or betrayed by a friend? Let’s talk about the book of Job. When Job’s troubles came the phrase, “Job’s comforters“, was born. These guys came along and raked him over the coals of accusation on every level. Even his wife told him to “curse God and die“. Job complained to God 16:20 My friends scorn me, my eyes pour out tears to God.
Have you ever felt like “when it rains it pours“? It seems that everything happens at once and then people want to blame you for the outcome. It is easy to be bitter at a time like that but remember that Jesus forgave Peter even after he denied Him to His face and before the people in the courtyard! As long as we carry un-forgiveness in our heart it is like carrying around an arm full of dirty diapers and being surprised when someone says something about the bad smell, it shows.
When did Job get everything back? Job 42:10 After Job had prayed for his friends, the LORD made him prosperous again and gave him twice as much as he had before. Job prayed for his friends and God gave him everything he had lost and twice as much! Is it easy to do? Not really, but we have to keep on keeping on so that we are innocent. I have a T- shirt a friend gave me that says, “God put your arm around my shoulder and your hand over my mouth!”Yea, that’s the ticket, lean on God’s strong chest and let Him do your talking for you! Proverbs 18:24 A man that has friends must show himself friendly: and there is a friend that sticks closer than a brother. That friend is Jesus, “What a friend we have in Jesus, all our sins and grief’s to bear, What a privilege to carry everything to Him in prayer.”
1 John 5: 14-15 Now this is the confidence that we have in Him, that if we ask anything according to His will, He hears us. And if we know that He hears us, whatever we ask, we know that we have the petitions that we have asked of Him. Jesus told us to “Ask” and we would receive. I know that sometimes it feels like the sky is brass and everything bounces back and lands in our lap but as I said, there is a solution and there is a “friend that sticks closer than a brother” and that friend is Jesus, whatever you have need of, take it to Him, right now.
Sometimes it is the act of just “unloading” yourself to someone that you know cares and will keep your confidence. He listens and won’t repeat!
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