Oh, the Grandeur of what God has done on this earth and in our hearts.
Oh, the Arrogance at what we have thought we could have done better.
There are parts of this story about Job and his fair-weather friends that are simply so sad. Here's a man who has lost his 10 children. Lost his good health. Lost his community. Job does not even have one child to console him about the death of the others. There are no words in the English language to communicate the extent of this devastating loss. No Words. Instead! An Accusation: ~ Job 34:36 ~ Job needs to be tested to the utmost for answering and questioning God. And the words of David fall into play: It is better to fall into the Hands of God rather than into the hands of men (Heb 10:34). Why can't we fall forward into Loving Arms and speak our heart? God will make us aright. He will set us back on our feet again. He will make all things new, if only we name what we are doing. Far too often, we do not name our sin. Maybe, we don't even really see our sin. Demandingness. Longings for something other than God. Arrogance that we can do this! Our God, this very moment, is knocking on the door of our hearts---a progressive move, Rev. 3:20. Why won't we listen? God is Powerful, Omniscient, and Good in our darkest days. Trust. How can we not? To Whom else shall we go? To What else this day?
PRAYER FROM PSALMS
Psalm 19:14 LORD Jehovah. Helper. Refuge. Let the words of my mouth name what I am doing. Let the meditations of my heart be pleasing to You. O God!
OVERVIEW: Job 32-34
Last night, I couldn't quiet my mind and sleep. I kept thinking of Job. "The Lord gives and the Lord takes away." Still, Blessed be the Lord. Mine, on a much smaller scale, and I was handling it very poorly. We have had a lot of our employees move on after many years with us. And of course, our dear Juan is so ill. I couldn't quit thinking anxious thoughts about it last night. So I started reviewing Job's lessons long the way. It is arrogance that we think we can do anything alone. It is faithlessness that causes me not to trust. When has He not scooped us up and taken care of us? Why do I worry when I know it turns out just fine? And frankly, this is small stuff in the grand scheme of Job. It is not like I l thought it would look often, but He sees and provides. He could have been my Refuge last night but I didn't trust.
ReplyDeleteToday, we travel to New Orleans to get the final cosmetic touches of my breast reconstruction done. And I am replaying old difficult memories.
I want to live in the present moment where I AM dwells, not in the negative past or the unknown future. He is worthy to place our trust, our hope.
Job 34:28 "He hears the cry of the afflicted."
Annette, we were in the same place seven years ago. Two weeks into January and the girl who had worked for/with us for over 20 years, gave her resignation. Then by March, the girl who had worked for us since 1993 quit because we didn't put her in the top position. And the the girl who had been with us since 2000 quit over night in August. AND we had to have David's mother put in a Memory Care facility that same January....I can say that God met us at every turn. We were at the Red Sea many times, and He always parted the waters and made a way. The ones we hired were not as capable but God protected us and then of course, the next Spring the head person quit again....and we hired the girl who stole over forty thousand from us....which we were covered by insurance with. Said all of that to say....God was with us and had gone before us and prepared the way and He showed me before He showed David that we were to move the office home. Which that does NOT apply to you all. I do know He has gone before you and He has other people to work for you. I will pray for you, for I certainly know how. I do remember quoting to David at one point in those years..."though He slay me Yet will I praise Him..." Praying for you as you travel to New Orleans and all that that entails. .
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ReplyDeleteThank you, Mary Lou. God will take care if these things and I know from my own history that worry never bought one moment of peace or preparedness! Mike and I are sitting in a coffee shop right now enjoying our time in the Quarter. Making lemonade out of a lemon. It really is the angle from which you look through the glass that determines half full or empty. We are most blessed. And even if we weren't I pray we'd still honor our gracious God.
ReplyDeleteYou are a grasped person, Annette. And you know that this is more than what we think. It is who you are. And it is a beautiful God that pours out of you! Hope you are sitting in one of the best in my hometown, the Cafe Dumonde.
ReplyDeleteLove and prayers, Bev