When our son learned to shoot with a bow and arrow, I found my interest in the sport piqued by its grace and artistry. One afternoon I decided to join him in the backyard to take a few shots. Doing something that contradicted his training, I moved the bow left of the target. I knew that I couldn’t hold my left eye closed, so I closed my right eye instead and compensated for the difference it would make in the flight of the arrow. Understandably, few shots made it to the center. Because my lack of training limited my vision, I lacked accuracy in sending the arrow to the bull’s-eye.
Like Job, when difficulties arise, we may begin to feel as if God has some personal vendetta against us. Tracing back our choices, we don’t see how our decisions (and even our sacrifices for or faithfulness to the Lord) have merited the situations we now encounter.
Recognizing the majesty of God, Job acknowledged His power. But that same sovereignty caused Job to wonder if God really was good and just (Job 9:24). If God is all-powerful, then He has the ability to superimpose His authority in any circumstance. To Job, the question wasn’t whether God was able to change his situation; the question was why God was choosing not to intervene.
Interestingly, Job admitted his own limitations in his perspective. But because he couched his confession in complaint, he could not see that he had placed himself as a judge over God’s response to mankind (Job 9:17-18,22-23).
We are not unlike Job. When we don’t understand the situations around us, we must be careful not to define the ways of God through untrained eyes and in so doing miss the target of God’s hand as He works in our lives.
NLT 365-day reading plan passage for today: Mark 14:26-52
More:
Read Isaiah 59:15-21. How is God’s covenant with His children intricately woven into the righteousness and justice of His character? What is our role in the covenant?
Next:
How have you been looking at a situation with skewed vision? What does God see?
mike on September 20, 2012 at 5:06 am
A few years ago God took me though a 25 month period of unemployment, it was during this time and through this trial (blessing) that He brought life into much clearer focus. Looking back on this i could see Him at work shaping and molding my life.
Thanks for the great reminder of God and His ways.
staci54 on September 20, 2012 at 7:28 am
li ke you Mike, years ago i was pregnant with my 5th child, my husband lost his job and we were in the middle of building our dream home. We were down to the last 15c as all our savings was depleted. He was out of work for quite some time……it was during that time that I truly found Christ and developed this beautiful relationship!!!!!!!!!!!Thank God for trials…Hallelujah!
regina franklin on September 20, 2012 at 7:47 am
Dear Mike and Staci54,
Thank you for sharing your testimonies of the things God did in your lives in times of trial–not only of His sustaining strength but the greater prize, true intimacy and communication with Him.
tom felten on September 20, 2012 at 9:35 am
It’s so important to cling to God’s sovereignty and His goodness when facing the flames of adversity. He is there, and He does care!
regina franklin on September 20, 2012 at 12:26 pm
The place where I am trying to grow is in not “bracing myself” for adversity but maintaining a posture of consistent peace. Trying to anticipate hardship can still be a place of control.
winn collier on September 20, 2012 at 7:45 pm
untrained eyes – what a good metaphor.
regina franklin on September 21, 2012 at 10:41 am
As parents, we clearly understand that we, as adults, see and understand so much than our children. How easily I forget that I am but dust in comparison with an infinite and omniscient God. Life experience, while it provides an opportunity to gain wisdom and see in part through God’s perspective, it does not equal with His position as Sovereign Creator.
strngwmnnchrst on September 20, 2012 at 10:40 pm
It’s amazing how sometimes we feel just as Job did…why is God not intervening the way I expect Him to? I remember when my family was evicted out of our home we lived in for over 30 years….3 generations grew up in that house….The plan of the enemy through the ones who were laying claim to the land was to have all our stuff put out on the streets and bring shame to us….But, what the enemy means for evil, our God always turns it around, for our good….We were able to put our belongings in the neighbor’s yard and not have to put it on the streets till a moving truck came…We also found a new home the very next day to move into….How often does that happen? The very next day? We didn’t see the eviction coming, but God did and He had a way already prepared…..Sometimes things don’t happen the way we expect….Sometimes we don’t always hear from God the way we think we ought to, but He’s forever concerned about ALL that concerns His children…..God is good and always will be…..
regina franklin on September 21, 2012 at 10:45 am
[5] But joyful are those who have the God of Israel as their helper, whose hope is in the LORD their God. [6] He made heaven and earth, the sea, and everything in them. He keeps every promise forever. [7] He gives justice to the oppressed and food to the hungry. The LORD frees the prisoners. [8] The LORD opens the eyes of the blind. The LORD lifts up those who are weighed down. The LORD loves the godly. [9] The LORD protects the foreigners among us. He cares for the orphans and widows, but he frustrates the plans of the wicked. [10] The LORD will reign forever. He will be your God, O Jerusalem, throughout the generations. Praise the LORD! – Psa 146:5-10 NLT
GChoo on September 21, 2012 at 2:24 pm
Thank you Regina and all who have shared. It is such a blessing.
Yes, we definitely have a sovereign God, who is so faithful and just. When we take time to look back in our lives, we know how much our living God loves and cares for us. We know we can trust Him now and forever.
He deserves all our praises. Hallelujah!
melanierweber on February 26, 2013 at 12:53 pm
The life of Job calls me to earnestly pursue a reverant heard towards God. I accept my relationship with God includes unexplained circumstances, and situations which are difficult. And to be very careful in interpreting them.
Thank you Regina for sharing your thoughts about Job. Good timing as you see many comments. Keep sharing!