Kiss The Wave | Week Five

“If you are making significant progress on the transformational journey of Christian spirituality, you have one or more friendships that support that journey. If you do not, you are not. It’s that simple.” (“Sacred Companions: David Brenner)

Then the Lord answered Job from the whirlwind. He said:

Who is this who obscures my counsel with ignorant words?
Get ready to answer me like a man; when I question you, you will inform me.
Where were you when I established the earth?   Job 38:1-4

• God created the universe.

“Everything under heaven belongs to me.”  Job 41:11

• God controls the universe.

“You asked, “Who is this who conceals my counsel with ignorance?” Surely I spoke about things I did not understand, things too wondrous for me to know. You said, “Listen now, and I will speak. When I question you, you will inform me.” I had heard reports about you, but now my eyes have seen you. Therefore, I reject my words and am sorry for them.”  Job‬ ‭42‬:‭3‬-‭6‬ ‭

Consider it a great joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you experience various trials, because you know that the testing of your faith produces endurance. And let endurance have its full effect, so that you may be mature and complete, lacking nothing.  

James 1:2-4 

• What is being done to me?

• What is being done in me?

“When we find ourselves in difficult situations, we get so focused on getting out of them that we get nothing out of them.  Then we wonder why we find ourselves in the same situation all over again.  There is nothing wrong with asking God to change your circumstances, but the primary objective is changing you.  The circumstances you’re asking God to change may be the very circumstances He is using to change you.” 

(“Win The Day”, Mark Batterson) 

Take the prophets who spoke in the Lord’s name as an example of suffering and patience. See, we count as blessed those who have endured. You have heard of Job’s endurance and have seen the outcome that the Lord brought about—the Lord is compassionate and merciful.  James 5:10-11

• What is being done through me?

the Lord restored his fortunes and doubled his previous possessions. All his brothers, sisters, and former acquaintances came to him and dined with him in his house. They sympathized with him and comforted him concerning all the adversity the Lord had brought on him. Each one gave him a piece of silver and a gold earring.
So the Lord blessed the last part of Job’s life more than the first. He owned fourteen thousand sheep and goats, six thousand camels, one thousand yoke of oxen, and one thousand female donkeys.

He also had seven sons and three daughters. He named his first daughter Jemimah, his second Keziah, and his third Keren-happuch. No women as beautiful as Job’s daughters could be found in all the land, and their father granted them an inheritance with their brothers.
Job lived 140 years after this and saw his children and their children to the fourth generation. Then Job died, old and full of days.  Job 42:10-16