Answer me, if you can

“But now, hear my speech, O Job, and listen to all my words. Behold, I open my mouth; the tongue in my mouth speaks. My words declare the uprightness of my heart, and what my lips know they speak sincerely. The Spirit of God has made me, and the breath of the Almighty gives me life. Answer me, if you can; set your words in order before me; take your stand. Behold, I am toward God as you are; I too was pinched off from a piece of clay. Behold, no fear of me need terrify you; my pressure will not be heavy upon you. Job 33:1-7

These words of Elihu have taken me to a place I had not anticipated. My first reactions were the deep truths I needed to examine, to assure myself I truly had an upright heart, and that there is confidence in sincerely speaking the truth as God has provided. Basically, as the Word says, Answer me, if you can.

And I have to tell you some of the examinations have been difficult, which led to my going about it with a negative attitude, expecting to fail in so many areas. I was pleasantly surprised when God was gracious to remind me that there is now no condemnation for those who are in Jesus Christ. But that did not take away from the truth that there were some areas that had not been surrendered to Him. Areas of my life I could call minor, things pushed back, even buried, because they did not seem to create problems. But the reality is there are no minor areas in sin. Any sin can be either an ocean or a thread of separation from God and the joy He has for me. It doesn’t mean He has stopped loving me. It means I am shorting myself of the abundance of life that a right relationship with God gives me.

As I share these things, I hope you remember the last two verses shared: Behold, I am toward God as you are; I too was pinched off from a piece of clay. Behold, no fear of me need terrify you; my pressure will not be heavy upon you. 

I am not going to go around pointing fingers and insisting action be taken. Why? First, I’m not God, I did not write the Word that guides us. Second, I too was pinched off from a piece of clay. But I can share scripture verses that minister to me, and that I hope will enable you to determine where you stand in your walk of faith. What you do with any revelation that is based on God’s truth is vital to the peace you have. Circumstances impact how we do the work God has given us. He is not unaware of what we face. But He is more than willing to help us live our heart’s desire no matter what life has thrown at us.

Live in, rejoice in, the truth in this verse: The Spirit of God has made me, and the breath of the Almighty gives me life.