Job 7:17–18 (ESV): 17 What is man, that you make so much of him,
and that you set your heart on him,
18 visit him every morning
and test him every moment?

Psalm 8:3–4 (ESV): 3 When I look at your heavens, the work of your fingers,
the moon and the stars, which you have set in place,
4 what is man that you are mindful of him,
and the son of man that you care for him?

Abba,

Job here connects your attention upon him to his suffering.  Not inaccurately so.  He connects your focus upon him with the testing that he is enduring.  And he is unsure of why.

When we pan out to try and capture the panoramic view of your plan and purpose, we know that you are intent on fashioning man into your image and likeness.  We bear your image simply by existing.  However, your likeness is another matter.  The dross of our sin must needs to burned off.  The gold of our being needs refining to shine in the luster of your glory. 

We must be shaped and sculpted, as clay in the hands of the potter, into the final product.  This process is uncomfortable and painful for sure.  It involves hardship and suffering. 

Suffering is the crucible by which this fire burns, and by which the final perfected product is achieved. 

It is a process you are DEEPLY committed to. 

Thus, suffering is not a momentary plight for Your followers.  Suffering is a state of being in this pre-eternal state.  For sure, that suffering will wax and wane in its intensity and severity, but living in a sin cursed world through which you intend to sanctify and shape us into your likeness, WILL come with suffering and hardship.  It simply is.

And we can rejoice with JOY eternal that it is.  For it is the tool in your toolbox that is used to do your good and perfect work.

May we ever and always pray this simple prayer:

Abba,

I know that today will have it’s own hardships and challenges. In all honesty, I fear them. I dread them. But even as You, Jesus, did not shy away or avoid them, neither shall I. I humbly and graciously submit myself to whatever suffering or hardship may come today. I plead your grace to see me through, for the glory of your name, for my joy in you, and for the work of your will.

May we, with You Jesus, consider the joy that is set before us and with rejoicing and utter delight submit to whatever Your perfect will deems necessary in the perfecting of Your work in us.

Hebrews 12:1–2 (ESV): 12 Therefore, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us also lay aside every weight, and sin which clings so closely, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, 2 looking to Jesus, the founder and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is seated at the right hand of the throne of God

The attention of God is fixated on shaping and producing images of Himself. The highest fulfillment of this is seen in the person of Christ through the cruciform of love. When found IN HIM, the fullness of God’s image is found in us. The image is most poignantly displayed and produced through the crucible of suffering.