JULY 9, 2016

“We are not necessarily doubting that God will do the best for us; we are wondering how painful the best will turn out to be.” 
― C.S. Lewis

JOB 40-42

Job replies to God...

1Then Job replied to the Lord:

2“I know that you can do all things;

no purpose of yours can be thwarted.

3You asked, ‘Who is this that obscures my plans without knowledge?’

Surely I spoke of things I did not understand,

things too wonderful for me to know.

4“You said, ‘Listen now, and I will speak;

I will question you,

and you shall answer me.’

5My ears had heard of you

but now my eyes have seen you.

6Therefore I despise myself

and repent in dust and ashes.”

ACTS 15:22-41

Paul and Barnabas have a disagreement over Mark...

36Some time later Paul said to Barnabas, “Let us go back and visit the believers in all the towns where we preached the word of the Lord and see how they are doing.”

JOURNAL 

Job is humbled and then is honored by God. Paul and Barnabas are committed to the faith of those they ministered to.

Through all of the suffering, Job never gets an answer to why. He is humbled in that he realizes that God and his wisdom are immensely greater than anything Job can imagine. God then blesses Job and the rest of his life is lived in peace.  

What do I learn from this? To me it is that God is God. Some things are far beyond our understanding and can't really be put in my limited existence or capacity for  comprehension. There is no pattern to why and how God blesses. God is God and acceptance of all that happens is part of the joy of living. I must embrace it no matter how little sense it makes. For what other choice do I have. Being angry with God is pretty futile...inquiring for understanding is not without merit. But I also must realize that some answers I probably will never get. I must be OK with that and be able to embrace each moment regardless of its details.

1Now faith is confidence in what we hope for and assurance about what we do not see. 2This is what the ancients were commended for.

 ~ HEBREWS 11:1