MAY 2013 - Assemblies of the Lord Jesus Christ

certainly did not hesitate to rebuke Job’s friends (Job 42:7-9). Even if Job forgave me, I was unableto forgive myself. Jehovah willing, Job’s wounds would heal, but the wound from my words wouldnever be forgotten. The scar that I would take from this trial would be the scar of being forevermisunderstood.Our sufferings lasted for almost a year. I steadfastly cared for my husband trying my best tomake him comfortable. I joyfully recall the day that I saw some of the pain leave his eyes. Theday he asked me to put away the potsherd pieces that he had scraped his sores with was a day ofrejoicing. I slowly felt Satan’s hold on us slip away, and in its place the warmth of Jehovah’s presencefilled my home again. Job and I were able to look back at the wonderful memories of our tenchildren and smile. However, the day that will forever be etched in my heart is the day that Job feltwell enough to wrap me in his arms. Oh, how I had missed his touch, needed his touch. I no longerfelt misunderstood, I felt redeemed.Our family and friends began to gather. They brought gifts of silver and gold.Our flocks began to multiply. Job was able to rebuild and Jehovah’s blessingswere upon us. I shared in the experience of the doubling of our wealth. Eventhough I was the one that had wounded with words, I still partook of theblessings. One beautiful, glorious day, I felt the movement of a child inmy womb. I knew then the heart of my home had begun to beat again.Jehovah blessed me nine other times afterwards. I, the misunderstoodwound-maker, was given ten of the most beautiful children in all the land.Job and I lived long and saw four generations of offspring. Our end wasgreater than our beginning.As women, we love a happy ending and the story of Job is just that!Also as women, we sometimes speak with our minds instead of our hearts.Proverbs perfectly states that the tongue is mightier than the sword. Job’swife found this to be true, and so have each of us, time and time again.Our schedules get busy, our lives become unorganized, debt piles up andsleep evades us. So what do we do? We wound with our words. Sadly,we usually speak in haste to those around us whom we love the most. Assoon as the words are spoken, we are filled with regret. With the Lord’shelp, we understand we are not vicious or bitter people, and thankfully Hisforgiveness can heal misunderstandings.Perhaps you have not been the one that has inflicted pain with yourwords, but you have been the wounded one. Words cut deep into our heart and our memory. Theyseem to resurface at the oddest times and continue to cause pain, sometimes years later. Job hastaught us many lessons, but perhaps the greatest lesson of all is that Job became intimate with theone who wounded him. In his tragedy, he found triumph. Not on his own, but with the help of hismisunderstood wife. Job’s story proves to us that Satan is the author of all misery and that God’sgrace is more than enough to support us through any trial. But the ending might not have been ahappy one if Job had not been willing to get close to the one who had wounded him.What new chapter could be written in your life today if you were able to become close to theone that wounded you? What burden could be lifted if you cleared out the misunderstandings of lifeand began afresh and anew? No, Job’s wife never forgot that day when things fell apart in her lifeand when she spoke from her grief, butshe also refused to let that moment definethe rest of her life. As women, maywe always pray King David’s prayerin Psalms 19:14, “Let the words of mymouth and the meditation of my heartbe acceptable in thy sight, O Lord, mystrength and my redeemer.”LaTrisa Presson attends First ApostolicChurch of Maryville, Tennessee (PastorKenneth Carpenter).12 Apostolic Witness