Job 36:5-15 (New Living Translation) 

5 “God is mighty, but he does not despise anyone!
      He is mighty in both power and understanding.
 6 He does not let the wicked live
      but gives justice to the afflicted.
 7 He never takes his eyes off the innocent,
      but he sets them on thrones with kings
      and exalts them forever.
 8 If they are bound in chains
      and caught up in a web of trouble,
 9 he shows them the reason.
      He shows them their sins of pride.
 10 He gets their attention
      and commands that they turn from evil. 

 11 “If they listen and obey God,
      they will be blessed with prosperity throughout their lives.
      All their years will be pleasant.
 12 But if they refuse to listen to him,
      they will be killed by the sword and die from lack of understanding.
 13 For the godless are full of resentment.
      Even when he punishes them,
      they refuse to cry out to him for help.
 14 They die when they are young,
      after wasting their lives in immoral living.
 15 But by means of their suffering, he rescues those who suffer.
      For he gets their attention through adversity

This morning my friend mine past away.  He was an cyclist and runner.  We need to listen to God and not wait until the suffering comes that gets our attention.  We can find comfort in Him.  As the scripture says "If we listen and obey God, we will be blessed..."

Rick Shelton 1949-2008