We Are Dust (Ash Wednesday) - Job 42:1-6 Pain / Promise: We are dust / Jesus forgives

Our lives are full of pain. We can easily become bitter about this. Where is God? Why won't he act? What did I do to deserve this? Why am I being punished? We feel a sense of injustice, just as Job did. We feel abandoned by God even. As if he has left us and is nowhere to be found. We do deserve suffering in this world, because we have brought sin into it. Yet, we know that God does not punish us for our sins, but forgives us when we repent of our sin and turn back to him. God grants us forgiveness and restores us to himself just as he restored Job's health, wealth, and gave him a family again. We know God does not always bless us with earthly gifts, but that he blesses us with forgiveness, and a bright future with him! He raises us from dust to a restored life!