Reflection:
‘Would you discredit my justice? Would you condemn me to justify yourself? Do you have an arm like God’s, and can your voice thunder like his? (Job 40:8-9)
It’s about God’s presence, not God’s answers.
When God allowed Satan to bring horrendous grief and hurt to Job, Job (amazingly) kept his faith. However, that didn’t stop Job railing against the injustice of all that had happened to him. Job demanded the right to question God, as you would in a court of law, about the wrongs that had been inflicted on him.
In the last few chapters, God turns the tables and questions Job… and to his credit, Job is instantly contrite. But here’s the thing: God did not answer a single question of Job’s. All God did was to show Job a little more of himself.
The same has happened to me. When I was, for many years, in deep grief about my ministry – I cried out to God in anguish, asking: why? Eventually, God answered my question with one of his own. He simply asked, “Nick, do you love me?”
That was all God wanted to know. I was simply invited to trust.
Prayer: Dear Lord, My life hasn’t turned out as expected… and things have been a lot harder than I imagined. I ask that you grow in me a love and understanding of you that will enable me to ride the storms and remain faithful.