I said all that to preface my thoughts on peace. In the book of Job we see a man who had peace in the midst of a storm. Whose heart was broken but whose God was still in control. Who never once blamed God for the platter that was handed him. I believe we can learn a lot from this man.
Read the first chapter of Job (Click the link for the full chapter) If you have time, read the 2nd chapter as well to get more of the story.
Job, literally, had his family, wealth and health all stripped out from under him in a matter of a short time. Later we even see his wife and friends turn on him.
This is his response....
21 And said, Naked came I out of my mother's womb, and naked shall I return thither: the Lord gave, and the Lord hath taken away; blessed be the name of the Lord.
22 In all this Job sinned not, nor charged God foolishly.
Every time I read this passage, my mouth just wants to drop open at his response. How could he have such peace? ...BLESSED be the name of the Lord.
Now, PLEASE don't get me wrong. Job was devastated. We see in the next chapters how he proclaimed that he wished he had never been born. He was SO upset; but in it, he never lashed out at God. He never turned on God. He never blamed God.
God had blessed him with good times and God allowed those bad times. He was going to live life in whatever stage he was in. Yes, he hurt. Yes, he was devastated, but he accepted what was handed him and kept his peace.
One thing that we find blatantly obvious about Job's life was that he never felt "entitled".
I'm sure he enjoyed his family, his wealth and health. I'm sure he thanked God. I'm sure that God blessed his faithfulness, but he didn't believe that God owed it to him.
How do I know that? Read Job. 1:21-22. "the Lord gave, and the Lord hath taken away;"
I love fairy tales. I love happy endings. I love to rejoice with women over their husbands and their babies. I love to see women succeed in every area of their lives.
However, can I be straight with you? We are not entitled to a fairy tale life.
God doesn't owe us the perfect husband or even a perfect marriage.
He doesn't owe us children or certain number of children.
He doesn't owe us a job or a pay raise.
He doesn't owe us wealth or health.
He doesn't owe us a stress-free family or a college education.
I can claim it all I want, but it doesn't mean that is what I'm going to have handed to me.
He gives us guidelines to help us be successful in our marriage, family, and life, but there is our flesh and the devil fighting us daily.
If you can simple live a life like Job, you will have peace.
Live a life, trusting in your Creator. Thank Him, when He gives you blessings. Enjoy those times. Praise Him and share the happiness.
However, when hard times hit, keep on blessing Him. Realize that we are not entitled to anything. Life and love are gifts that we get. Those gifts can be taken, as well.
Our hope is in Eternity, NOT this life. So when we see this life as "just passing through", those things become extra blessings.
Let's not have an attitude of entitlement, let's have an attitude of peace.
As a wise man once said " the Lord gave, and the Lord hath taken away; blessed be the name of the Lord." - Rejoicing in the Present
Let's not have an attitude of entitlement, let's have an attitude of peace.
As a wise man once said " the Lord gave, and the Lord hath taken away; blessed be the name of the Lord." - Rejoicing in the Present
Job's confidence was in the Lord not the self that so many strive for today. Thanks for the thoughtful lesson Joy. Love you.
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