Rocks

Recent discussions with friends have challenged me to think about stories like Job's. After he loses his livelihood, all ten of his children, his health, and then gets to hear his wife's bitter demand that he should just curse God and die, Job gives the most astounding and mature answer: "Shall we receive good from God, and shall we not receive disaster?" He seemed to understand something about God that everyone else around him missed, something that even Satan figured Job didn't grasp: the nature and character of God do not change as our circumstances do. Whether we're walking in a daydream or living in a nightmare, the reality is that He is a constant we can cling to, a foundation to build on, a refuge. It seems like Job is saying, "Since this is who God is, we actually have a chance of surviving the hard times."

Along with that is Job's trust in His sovereignty, which, if you read the end of the story, definitely grows once God has spoken his piece. Job's words go from "Where are you, God?" to "Who am I?" and "Great are You!" Job didn't just sit quietly and internalize his anguish (he certainly let God hear it), but his eyes are opened to the greatness and wisdom of the Creator of all things, and he could truly believe that God's way is the best way. In that moment, he was drastically humbled. "I had heard of you by the hearing of the ear, but now my eye sees you..."

I read in a book the other day that we should take all of the rocks --- all of the hard things --- in our lives and build an altar to the Lord with them, offer even those things as worship to God. In essence, this is how Job's story ends. He was able to truly see the Lord as He is and worship Him for it, despite his pain and without any promise that his life would be restored, even doubled, which it was anyway.

So I'm asking myself this question: As I go through the hard times, am I seeing God clearly, in truth of who He is...and am I praising Him for it? Do I demand only good from Him, or do I trust Him to bring me through the bad, since He remains the same on either road?

I can only pray to be brought to that level of living, trusting, and knowing. Still a work in progress....