Like a Wineskin in Smoke

There is little I can offer to someone dealing with emotional or physical pain. I cannot cure someone’s illness. I cannot fix the pain caused by sexual abuse. I cannot fix the heartache caused by divorce or death of a loved one. Fortunately however, where I lack in words of comfort, God provides. Our God is the God of all comfort (2 Corinthians 1:3). He will comfort us through His Spirit as we turn to His Word and His people. His living Word provides more comfort than any pain killer this world has to offer. So if you find yourself in need of comfort, in this post I want to invite you to dig into His word with me.

The words that sparked my inspiration for this post are found in Psalm 119:82-83. The Psalmist writes, “ My eyes fail from searching Your word, Saying, When will You comfort me? For I have become like a wineskin in smoke, Yet I do not forget Your statutes.”

In ancient times, a wineskin was a drinking container made from animal skin. It was hung near a fire to absorb the smoke and become hardened in order to drink out of. But when a wineskin was in the smoke for too long, it had the potential to become dried up, cracked, and useless.

Do you ever feel dried up and useless? Or feel on the verge of cracking from absorbing too much smoke from your trials?

If you do, I pray this post encourages you. If you do not, I pray you remember this when that day approaches: I want to share with you three things to remember in the midst of the smoke from a fiery trial:

1. Satan can use Smoke to Blind us From God’s Goodness

When I think of suffering, I think of Job. Most of us have read his story and are familiar with it. But let’s read Job 30:20-21

“I cry out to You, but You do not answer me;

I stand up, and You regard me.

But You have become cruel to me;

With the strength of Your hand You oppose me.”

Ever felt like God has forgotten you, or as if He is against you? Job’s trial was causing him to be blinded from the goodness of God.

Let’s keep reading:

Vs 22-27 “ You lift me up to the wind and cause me to ride on it;

You spoil my success. For I know that You will bring me to death, And to the house appointed for all living.

Surely would not stretch out His hand against a heap of ruins

If they cry out when He destroys it.

Have I not wept for him who was in trouble?

Has not my soul grieved for the poor?

But when I looked for good, evil came to me;

And when I waited for light,

Then came darkness. My heart is in turmoil and cannot find rest;

Days of affliction confront me.”

Job’s heart was in such turmoil and could not find rest. He could not see past his days of affliction and they probably felt endless. As a result, he began to doubt God. Remember in the beginning of Job, we learned that he was blameless, upright, and feared God and shunned evil (Job 1:1). Satan asked God if Job would continue to be blameless and fear him if God removed the hedge of protection around him and stopped blessing the work of his hands and possessions (Job 1:9-10). So God allowed Satan to tempt Job and cause suffering. This is so important to remember when we face trials. We do not face them because God hates us. We face them because we live in a broken world that satan exists in. One day Jesus is returning for us, but until then we will face trials. And God can use our trials to refine our faith and fear in Him.

By God’s grace, we get to see the end of Job’s story. Job repents in the end for doubting God and was restored and blessed in his later days more than in the beginning (John 42:12). God worked out Job’s suffering. However, unlike Job, we may not see our blessings in this life time, but when we clear the smoke from our eyes we can remember where our story is headed: “He will wipe away every tear from their eyes, and death shall be no more, neither shall there be mourning, nor crying, nor pain anymore, for the former things have passed away.” Revelation 21:4.

2. Listen to Others Who Notice Your Smoke Signal:

A wine skin becomes dry, cracked, and useless because it absorbs too much smoke. Saving the wineskin would require someone else pulling it away from the smoke. In the spiritual sense, allowing someone to bear our burdens and speak truth into our lives when they see our smoke signals, prevents us from absorbing too much smoke. Please don't try to absorb all the smoke on your own.

In the book of Job chapter 32, Job had just finished justifying the way he was feeling through his trials (rightfully so). And scripture says, “So these three men ceased answering Job, because he was righteous in his own eyes. The wrath of Elihu, the son of Barachel the Buzite, of the family of Ram, was aroused against job; his wrath was aroused because he justified himself rather than God (Job 32:2). Elihu had wise counsel to say, but. he writes, “I am young in years, and you are very old; Therefore I was afraid and dared not declare my opinion to you. I said, “Age should speak, and multitude of years should teach wisdom. But there is a spirit in man and the breath of the Almighty gives him understanding. Great men are not always wise, Nor do the aged always understand justice.”He goes on to remind Job of the righteousness and faithfulness of God. He reminds Job that the Lord sees all his steps (Job 34:21). He reminds Job that God is mighty in strength of understanding (Job 36:5). He reminds Job to stop justifying himself and remember to fear God (Job 38-41). He reminds Job that God is not unjust (Job 34). Ultimately Elihu sees Jobs' smoke signal and God uses him as a vessel to help put out Job’s fire of self-reliance.

I couldn’t help but wonder why God included in His word that Elihu felt intimated by His age. I think it is a reminder for us that sometimes help comes from the most unexpected places. I believe this is also a great reminder for us who find it difficult to take godly counsel in the midst of a trial. Maybe we think the Christian trying to encourage us is too young, or hasn’t been through enough like we have, but we must remember, just as Elihu was young, he still possessed the godly wisdom. If they are pointing us back to the God in the Bible, and using His words to comfort us, the Spirit of God is with them and we should take their words into consideration.

Please do not misunderstand me, I am not encouraging you to listen to every piece of advice that someone offers. Remember Job’s three friends? God rebuked them for offering false advice. They were not offering godly counsel. Their words were totally wrong and empty. A word of caution would be to filter who you listen to and be cautious to make sure they are offering biblical, godly counsel.

3. Remember Who Controls the Smoke. When a wineskin is left in the smoke for too long, it becomes dried up, cracks, and become useless. In our case, we have someone that controls the smoke. Our God. And in the midst of the heavy smoke of our trials, it is so important to remember He controls the smoke because satan so easily distracts us from His goodness. Let’s go back to Job and read how God answered Job in the midst of his suffering:

“Who is this who darkens counsel By words without knowledge?

Now prepare yourself like a man;

I will question you, and you shall answer me

Where were you when I laid the foundations of the earth?

Tell me, if you have understanding.

Who determined its measurements?

Surely you know!

Or who stretched the line upon it?...(Job 38:1-5)

To what were its foundations fastened?

When the morning stars sang together and all the sons of God shouted for joy?

Or who shuts in the sea with doors,

When it bursts forth and issued from the womb” Job 38:1-8.

Oh these words pierce right through my soul. I am so quick to question God, but who am I? The Lord goes on to declare His greatness, and when I read the entirety of the chapter, I am brought back to reality. And it seems Job was too because look how he answers:

“I know that you can do everything, And that no purpose of Yours can be withheld from You

You asked who is this who hides counsel without knowledge?

Therefore I have uttered what I did not understand

Things too wonderful for me, which I did not know.

I have heard of You by the hearing of the ear, but now my eyes see you

Therefore I abhor myself and repent in dust and ashes” Job 42:1-6.

Job repents and his vision becomes clear as he remembers the faithfulness of God. It reminds me of the Psalmist’s conclusion as well in the text we began with, “Yet I do not forget your statutes.”

I want to encourage you to do the same. Sister, if you are in Christ but feeling like a wineskin in smoke, barely holding it together, questioning God, or too weary to turn to the Bible: Remember Who controls the smoke. He is the One who established the springs of the sea and the breadth of the earth. The One Who is mighty in strength and understanding (Job 36:5). He left behind His words for us to see clearly through our smoke filled lives. And most importantly, He gave us His Son who died for us and gives us a way to be with Him forever (Romans 5:8, John 14:6). He supplies our every need. His Word is a lamp to our feet and a light to our path. He is able to restore, confirm, and strengthen us (1 Peter 5:10). He transforms our dried up wineskin into a new replenished skin of righteousness.

I pray you hang on to these words in the midst of the smoke.

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