Today's passage is Job 1:12-22.
Satan argues that Job will curse God if everything he has is taken away. God restricts the testing, not allowing Job himself to be touched. All Job's possessions are taken, his children killed and only a few of his servants survive to bring him the news. Job mourns deeply but praises God instead of cursing him.
God is the centre of Job's life.
Loss after loss is announced to Job in breathless succession. Oxen, donkeys, sheep, cattle, servants, children, all gone.
Job has nothing but the clothes on his back, which he rips in ceremonial acknowlegement of his affliction.
He punctuates his grief by affirming God and his relationship with him.
He had nothing when he was born, he has nothin now, but God is still there and God is to be praised as the undying, unchanging centre of his life. Job does not acknowledge Satan, only God. And God is in charge.
When I had my Job experience of losing father, friend, wife, new family, job, and money, I cursed God.
I had none of Job's stamina.
Although I didn't lose my faith that God was there, I did not praise him for my circumstances. The pain obliterated my balance.
I cursed him for not helping me in the way I wanted to be helped.
My whole life was challenged.
I was socially isolated, I lost a lot of weight, I was deeply depressed, life made no sense, right and wrong became irrelevant.
I should've died, jumped off a high building or swam out to sea and drowned.
But I didn't.
Looking back at that time, I marvel that I survived.
Where did I find the resilience to carry on and not give up?
Why didn't I commit suicide when so many others in similar situations do give up?
The reason was that God bubble-wrapped me.
He let things go only so far and no farther, just as he did with Job.
Satan did not have full rein.
I bumped against my multiple losses but I didn't break apart.
Everything was gone except me and God.
And nothing has really changed since then except my knowledge of myself and my knowledge of my faith, God's gift.
I see now that Faith is the bubble wrap.
Although I have wife and career and money again, they don't stick to me like they did before because none them go with me in the end.
They have value, some greater than others, but I have to be able to see through them to God.
Job never lost sight of that.
I had to learn it and keep on learning it. Praise God for his teaching!
Lord, let me see you truly this day, let your praise be on my lips, let me be a help to someone even though I may not be aware of it. Let your Spirit be with Andy to guide the sharing and lead everyone to praise your name in their lives.
