Hi friends! I hope you’re doing well and had a productive and joyful week! This week I got to work on planning some events and personal growth in my internship, and I went to observe at the facility where I’ll be helping teach cooking classes later in the summer. It was hectic, but I am learning to build my daily rhythms for the summer to ground me through it all. So, let’s get into it!
Have you ever felt completely isolated and alone? Like no one really gets you or understands what it’s like to live a day in your head? Or like you are taking hit after hit and can’t catch a break? Have you been tired and overwhelmed and hoping and praying for a breakthrough?
I think it’s safe to say we’ve all been there. Sometimes these moments are probably smaller than we’re making them out to be (are we the drama?). But more often than not, these are very real, very painful seasons that just feel like the end will never be in sight.
As I’ve mentioned before, my first two years of college have been intertwined with some highs and some of my lowest lows. I remember there was a point during the fall semester of my sophomore year when I would just cry. I was struggling with spiritual and mental warfare that spawned from my being genuinely overwhelmed. It was people, it was school, it was comparison, it was discontentment, it was pride, and it was my lack of understanding of how to cope with it all. No one but my parents knew. And when people asked me how I was, I would just say, “I’m good but very busy” or “I’m stressed, but it will be fine.” I didn’t let people in, and I didn’t let anyone carry that burden with me.
In my tear-laden prayers and cries out to the Lord, I felt like it would be a good time for me to read the Book of Job. In case you didn’t know, Job suffered a lot, but what is more important is that God proved the righteous and grace-filled nature of His character through Job’s trials. So did reading Job make me feel better about my problems and help me see that it could be a lot worse? Of course! But on a greater scale, it taught me about God’s character.
Today, I will dive into some reflections on chapters 1-3 of the Book of Job. Watch THIS video for a recap, or read THESE chapters for some context!
Basically, a man, Job, loved and lived for the Lord. His possessions were many. One day, Satan came to the Lord and explained how he believed Job was only faithful and obedient because of his possessions and health, so God allowed Satan to have power over Job’s possessions and health. Job lost his possessions and his health. But Job lamented, worshiped, and prayed through it all, and eventually, God brought Job restoration.
God Knows
Satan came to the Lord and tried to best Him. Satan is very prideful, and it is honestly to his detriment. God knows Satan and his twisted behaviors so well because he once belonged to God. God also knows the heart of Job and gives Satan a false sense of control when in reality, God was in control the whole time. God is funny! He knows that Satan is defeated before he even takes a breath. The enemy doesn’t have a problem with us necessarily; it’s more that we receive a grace he never did. We got a second chance to choose God for ourselves. Satan did not. He is jealous and will do anything to try and pull us away from the Lord and spite Him. When you think about it, it really is childish. Do not let the enemy have that kind of power over you; remember the God you serve!
When you don’t know what to do…
Everything Job had was taken away from him in an instant. And what did Job do? He stripped himself of an earthly covering, shaved his head (in mourning), and he worshiped. He chose to worship. He chose to praise. Job understood that his understanding was limited. He understood that the Lord’s understanding and plan were perfect and infinite. He understood that the Lord is HOLY and GOOD, and because of that truth, God cannot sin against Job! Yes, the Lord gives. Yes, the Lord may take away. But it is for our good, even if not an immediate good, it is good nonetheless. Job did not blame God. Who are we, imperfect people, to blame God for the circumstances that arise in our fallen world? While we’re being real, the only reason this world is fallen is that we were prideful and greedy and chose sin over the bounty God gave us in the Garden.
So instead, praise God for what He has brought you through! Praise God for His goodness and what He has taught you! Praise God because He has not and will not fail you. Be so reliant and in love with the Lord that the whims of the world do not faze you! Love the Lord so deeply and surrender to Him so fully that the enemy trembles at your faith and you have no fear amid your circumstances.
Should we only accept the good from God and flee at the first sign of adversity?
Should we only want God when life is good, manageable, and easy? When it’s fixable by our standards, so God is reduced to an expediter of our will? Should we turn from God when life gets hard?
When life got hard for Jesus, He CHOSE us. He could have run and said, “Yeah, they’re not worth my time,” and get out of being crucified, but He didn’t. He had integrity, and He knew His purpose. He stood firm in TRUTH and the plan His Father had for Him.
It is so important to remember that Jesus PROMISED us that a life with Him and in Him was guaranteed to be difficult. The enemy wants God’s children to flee from Him and suffer. It is the nature of our broken world! But we must draw our strength from God and trust Him, surrendering fully to Him and His plan!
I have said these things to you, that in me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation. But take heart; I have overcome the world.”
John 16:33
Carrying Our Burdens
Lament. Community. Surrender.
Job lamented and cried out in agony, but he did not blame the Lord. He did not get angry with God or turn from Him. He was vulnerable and made his pain known to God. We are so quick to rant, send passive-aggressive texts, and confront, that we forget to bring our burdens to the Lord first. God cares–His yoke is easy, and His burden is light.
“Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.”
Matthew 11:29-30
Job also was in community during that difficult period. We are implored to live our lives in a community where we can support one another. Seek people that build you up, challenge you in love, and want the best for you. Those are the people you can do life with. Not just the shopping trips, silly jokes, and surface-level conversations. These are the people that want to carry your burdens with you, have uncomfortable or meaningful conversations with you, convict you in truth, and support you in your hardest moments.
And finally, God wants our surrender. When we get to a place where we no longer care about our desires and what we think is best and rely on God’s scope and plan, that is when we can experience true freedom. That is when God can do His thing. We are no longer hyperfocused on our problem but can now observe how God is moving.
Final Note
The Book of Job teaches a lot of beautiful messages about God’s character and faithfulness. I encourage you to read it and reflect on how Job’s persistence and faith persevered despite his circumstances and how God was righteous throughout.
The last thing I want to leave you with is that if we are not dead, God is NOT done. God is still weaving together our stories for our good. If you have breath in your lungs and are a child of God, there is more in store. Your story is not finished. And even if it isn’t beautiful now or even if it actually ends before you get to the “good part” you hoped for, there will be beauty from the unseen. God is a skilled author, the most skilled of them all, and the goal and theme of His story is to know His children and to make Himself and the relationship we could all have with the King of Kings known. So rest in God’s plan for your life and be grateful for where he’s taken you and where He will bring you. Rejoice in the fact that He alone is good and holy!
