How often in life have you questioned if God was truly working in the circumstances in your life? If you’re anything like me, unless an immediate answer is shouted with a bullhorn to the very depth of your ear a little part of you always wonders just exactly what God is up to. Is He there? Is He good? How does this circumstance impact my life and am I doing all I should be in it? Friends, if you have had these questions let me give some confidence in that fact that you are in good company, and it’s not just with me or your friends, but even with Biblical heroes of centuries back.
Job was a man who was said to be righteous. He was said to be one with God and was known as one where nothing could shake the foundation he believed in. Looking at Job was so comforting this week because found in Job’s character is a man who wasn’t perfect but was close to it and still he struggled. Still, trials came his way and he was placed on the path of defeating them. On a sidebar, this can tell us that no matter how strong we may be with God, it does not always excuse us from facing hard things in life. Our faith aids hugely in the means we get through things but it doesn’t mean that we won’t ever have to face anything. Sidebar closed, back to Job.
As Job faces his trials he follows the same pattern most of us do when we come face to face with those things that hurt or challenge us. Job puts on his own strength and tries to face it. When he falls short on his own he seeks out his friends for additional support. When his friends fail him, at that point on his own he seeks out God. All the while God was in control of every circumstance and had faith that Job would withstand everything he was enduring. God knew His child but His child only partly knew God. It fascinates me that everything Job faced was spiritual yet his spiritual warrior he sought out last; I am humbled to know this is me often.
When Job turns to God (finally!), he cries out and asks why. He waits and God responds, but surprisingly not with an answer to his question. In fact, what I find fascinating is God never answers Job as to why these things were happening to him. It’s not that God didn’t know -- in reading the scripture you can not only see that God knew but God allowed everything that happened. When He answers Job though He doesn’t explain any of this; He doesn’t tell the story of His plan and how He knew Job was strong enough with Him to withstand it, instead He simply asked Job who ultimately was God. God went on to ask who was there when the heavens were formed, when creation was made, when certain events took place. He says "I was" and allows Job to see a different perspective that Job wasn’t god; God was and that was enough.
While one of the reactions our finite human minds can give us might be why wouldn’t God answer as we meditate deeper on this it truly is amazing and very comforting. God didn’t want the focus to be on why something was happening to Job, knowing the reason wasn’t going to get him out of the storm, it wouldn’t change his circumstance at all but being reminded of who God is would. When Job takes his eyes off trying to figure out why the circumstance is occurring he can focus on and clearly see who is there by his side to pull him out of it. Not only that, but he can have confidence that the one taking him out is all powerful and reigns over everything and everyone that has been out of his control. As I reflect on this, I pray my perspective remains the same. We are all going to sink at one point in life and face things that nearly feel unbearable. We are going to struggle and question God but there is such comfort to know that anything can be faced by the God of the universe; God has already won and is right by your side to help you through it. Friends, this week I challenge you to seek out the one who calms the storm and keep in mind at the end of the day, He is God. Once again, we are in good company.
