He Leadeth Me

Good rainy morning! Just the rain we needed at just the right time. What sort of mess are you in right now? Your circumstance may include only the little things that happen every day. Difficult co-workers, rebellious teenagers (might be some redundancy there), crying babies, late for work, problems with systems, a stray ache or pain in the body, these things come and go on most days. However, you may also be in a serious crisis like the status of your job is right on the edge, the finances of your household are in disaster mode, your family is waiting for the results of a medical test, or a loved one is near death. Part of the serious crises we face in life is the blame game. What did I do wrong? How come these things are happening to me? Why does God need to punish me? If we take the time to read Job, we will notice questions very like that coming from the mouths of Jobs friends. Yet, God himself testified to Job's innocence before the trial began.

Job did not deserve to lose his family and property through some sin that he could not recall. The trial came from God's prerogative to test His children. God invited Satan to check out Job, and then allowed the adversary to do some serious destruction in the man's life. To Job, the disasters came out of nowhere. Job had his family around him, his herds, his home, and praise to God on his tongue. He prayed daily for his children in case one of them forgot. Job should have been rewarded with health, wealth, and long life from our point of view. Suddenly, he only had his life, because God limited Satan's attack. Yes, we read that right: God limited Satan's attack.

We do not know in our current crisis what limitations God has placed on the adversary or his minions. We do know that in Christ, God is watching carefully over the circumstances that look so dark. God sent His Holy Spirit to lead us here. We moan and groan under the circumstance, but perhaps we should be looking for what we are to learn in this situation. What fruit of the Spirit will grow larger and more generous through this trail? What understanding will I gain for when another faces a similar trial? How much more will I be of help and comfort to my brothers in Christ when they too face their Waterloo? Oops, little Napoleonic reference snuck in there. Actually, that isn't quite correct. For what seems like a major defeat in our lives may only be a the temporary testing that He leads us to and through. Job suffered terribly for a while, but in time God restored him and led him up to the peaks of gratitude and gladness.

At times we may be tempted to think that life is but one big trip through the dark valley. What are you? Job, his wife and his friends all rolled into one telling yourself that you have sinned and encouraging yourself to curse God and die? Shame on you! Look to God and receive His grace and revel in His strength. In our weakness, God's strength shines through. In His mercy, God gives us no more than we can bear. Trust in our Lord!

Bucky