If I were in your shoes, I’d go straight to God, I’d throw myself on the mercy of God.

After all, he’s famous for great & unexpected acts; there’s no end to his surprises.

He gives rain, for instance, across the wide earth, sends water to irrigate the fields.

He raises up the down-and-out, He gives firm footing to those sinking in grief.

He aborts the schemes of conniving crooks, so that none of their plots come to term.

He catches the know-it-alls in their conspiracies— all that intricate intrigue swept out with the trash!

Suddenly they’re disoriented, plunged into darkness; they can’t see to put one foot in front of the other.

But the downtrodden are saved by God, saved from the murderous plots, saved from the iron fist.

And so the poor continue to hope, while injustice is bound and gagged.

“So, what a blessing when God steps in & corrects us!

Don’t despise the discipline of Almighty God!

True, he wounds, but he also dresses the wound; the same hand that hurts us, heals us.

From one disaster after another he delivers us; no matter what the calamity,

the evil can’t touch us-

In famine, he’ll keep us from starving,

in war, he’ll keep us from being gutted by the sword.

You’ll be protected from vicious gossip & live fearless through any catastrophe.

You’ll shrug off disaster & famine & stroll fearlessly among wild animals.

You’ll be on good terms with rocks & mountains; wild animals will become your good friends.

You’ll know that your place on earth is safe, you’ll look over your goods & find nothing amiss.

You’ll see your children grow up, your family lovely & wholesome as orchard grass.

You’ll arrive at your grave ripe with many good years, like sheaves of golden grain at harvest.

Yes, this is the way things are— God’s word of honor!

Take it to heart and you won’t go wrong.” …

Job 5:8-27 the message