There are so many different ideas for blogs going through my head write now. If I could have a week to do nothing but read and write, I would be a supremely happy woman. Needless to say, I don't. As a matter of fact I probably don't have the time to be blogging right now, but I don't care :) This isn't anything particularly profound, I'm just going to write about the thing that just hit me during quiet time today. Also, I'm writing in a different, more casual style so I apologize if I'm a bit scattered, haha.
Today I started to go through the book of Job. Every time I read Job I get hit with conviction...BAM. This time was no different. You know when you read something and the words nearly jump out of the page at you? Well, one of those moments just happened. I was reading the first chapter of Job. In summary, Satan is talking with God and God decides to brag on His man Job. Job is a faithful servant of God who is blameless, upright and fears God. God even goes as far to say that there is no one on the earth like Him. Satan retaliates and makes the point that God has placed a hedge around Job and everything he has, I mean, what reason does Job have not to love God? God then gives Satan access to everything Job has, but not Job himself. Satan then proceeds to leave the presence of the Lord and reek havoc on Job's life. Job receives news that his oxen, sheep, servants, camels, and all of his children were gone. Gone. In a short period of time, Job lost pretty much everything.
Job's response was very different from what mine probably would have been. In verses 20-21 of chapter one, Job says "At this, Job got up and tore his robe and shaved his head. Then he fell to the ground in worship and said: “Naked I came from my mother’s womb, and naked I will depart. The Lord gave and the Lord has taken away; may the name of the Lord be praised.”
These words jumped out of the page at me. His reaction toward God was worship. This just made me think, what is worship?
The Lord is beautiful. He is worthy of our praise at all times. He is Justice. He is love. He is always faithful. He never changes (Hebrews 13:8.) He is worthy of utmost adoration, reverence and honor.
In this passage, Job isn't experiencing a giddy, emotionally high, "I'm in love with Jesus, la la la" moment. He is experiencing pain, loss and sorrow. Everything precious has been torn away from him. I think that is what makes his act of worship so beautiful is that it is coming out of brokenness. Job's faith leads him to see the sovereign God's hand at work which gives him repose even in the face of such calamity. In the midst of sheer pain and uncertainty, He falls on His face in worship and praises the name of the Lord. Now, that is worship, that is beautiful.
This specifically challenged me because to be honest, lately some things in my life have just been really, really hard. Even though I've been experiencing "hard", it is nothing in comparison to losing everything. Every time we face hard in life we're faced with the choice becoming bitter and resentful toward God, or acknowledging His sovereignty and giving Him the worship and praise He is due.
Welp, I guess that about sums it up. I'm going to finish off with some lyrics this passage reminded me of. Thank you so much for taking the time to read. Peace.
"And I'll praise You in this storm
And I will lift my hands
For You are who You are
No matter where I am
And every tear I've cried
You hold in Your hand
You never left my side
And though my heart is torn
I will praise You in this storm"
