Grief and Worship

     I was reading from Job this morning in my devotional time and was reminded about the depth of Job's confidence in God.  In one day, he lost almost everything.  His livestock was destroyed.  All but 3 of his hired hands were killed.  All 10 of his children died when the oldest son's house collapsed on them.
     The 20th verse of Job 1 challenged me again as I read; "Then Job arose and tore his robe and shaved his head (all signs of deep grief and mourning) and fell on the ground and worshiped."
     There is something really powerful in the fact that Job's first instinct (even in the midst of unspeakable grief) was to worship God.  He acknowleged that even though God gave him all that he had, God retained ownership of it all and it was at God's disposal.
     As I think about the times of difficulty in my life...the times when I really felt like I was at the bottom; I wonder about my instinctive response.  Maybe you've experienced some of these reactions:
  • Anger - "I should be treated better than this."
  • Despair - "I don't think I can take any more."
  • Confusion - "What did I do to deserve this?"
  • Frustration - "Why do things like this keep happening to me?"
     My goal is not to challenge all of those responses.  My goal this morning is to remind you that it is possible to choose how we will respond to trial and difficulty.  We can determine what kind of thoughts we allow to fill our troubled heart.  Job was in the middle of an earth shattering, life changing day.  And, as we continue to read on into the second chapter, we find that the trouble wasn't over.  Satan was given permission by God to touch Job himself and he was covered in terrible sores which he scraped for some measure of comfort as he sat in the pile of ashes.  At that point, his only support (his wife) turned on him and told him to just give up.
     Still, Job 2:10 says "...in all this Job did not sin with his lips."  Wow.
     There is so much in that challenge that I think I'd go off into a sermon if I stayed on it.  Let me just encourage you today to draw so closely to your Heavenly Father (as Job had done) that when the troubling times come, as we all know they will, your instinctive response will be to turn to him.  Even when we don't get it, we still can trust our Father. 
     I'm reminded of the words from the old song: "when you can't trace His hand; trust His heart."

Comments

  1. IsaidaFebruary 29, 2012 at 11:43 AM

    Great post - I know it was only God that has got me through the murder of my oldest son. Yes, I was mad at first, questioned God, but still turned to Him for comfort and the reason I am still making it day by day today.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. David WilsonFebruary 29, 2012 at 12:25 PM

      Isaida, you are a great challenge to me. I know that the tragic loss of your son wasn't the first incredible challenge in your life. Your faith in God inspires me.

      Delete
  2. Jennie CassFebruary 29, 2012 at 11:56 AM

    Thanks for the thoughts to ponder and work on.

    ReplyDelete
  3. SaraFebruary 29, 2012 at 12:49 PM

    Agree with Jennie!

    ReplyDelete

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