This is a re-print of a post written in January 11, 2013. I hope you are blessed to read it again.
| It's been too hard living but I'm afraid to die 'Cause I don't know what's up there beyond the sky It's been a long, a long time coming But I know a change gonna come, oh yes it will |
| Very often in life, we are faced with the possibility of change, but at times, we are ill prepared for it. Some changes are good, some necessary, and some unwanted. No matter the reason, change will come in our life. It’s not only predicated upon how I handle change, but more importantly, my attitude before, during and after the change occurs. The seasons are a vivid reminder of coming change. Fall turns into winter, winter changes to spring and spring becomes summer. I have often reminded myself that being human, allows me to adapt to changes in weather. But how often have I remembered this when my change doesn’t involve the weather. Sometimes, I need to change, but I simply refuse. Why do I need to change? My attitude, my words, and my behavior all affect how I respond to change. I think there are instances when an intervention is a wakeup call for change. You decide to meet friends for Happy Hour, have a few drinks and on the way home, a policeman stops you because you’re driving erratically. That is an intervention of sorts that perhaps you need a behavioral change. You pride yourself on saying exactly what needs to be said, no matter what. “I just tell it like it is! I’m just being real!” This time, you went a little too far and now, someone is crushed because you decided being real was more important than relationships. Unlike most people, you’re gifted to see every dark cloud behind the silver lining. You know whenever something good happens, Murphy’s Law is initiated. You know that bad things happen to people because they did something to deserve it. So when your wife loses her job due to layoffs, you struggle with thoughts that it was something she did to deserve it; instead of being encouraging, supportive and loving. No matter how many times I read the book of Job, I am always blown away by his attitude. He lost everything that most would say: mattered. Yet, I have to believe that Job was not indifferent to what happened in his life. He lost his wealth, his children and his health but he accepted these changes as adversities which he had no control over. To him, it was important to honor the Lord in the midst of these changes. He even said, “If a man dies, will he live again? All the days of my struggle I will wait until my change comes.” When I struggle, am I willing to wait until my change comes? Job speaks of the resurrection when he asks, “If a man dies, will he live again?” It’s as if he is saying, whether the change comes in this life or not, I know the change will happen in the resurrection! Paul once wrote: “…but hope that is seen is not hope; for who hopes for what he already sees?” So when I am struggling with changing circumstances, I will hope. I may be knocked to the ground but I will hope. Some may tell me to give up but I will hope. Why? “…I know that my Redeemer lives, and at the last He will take His stand on the earth.” Christ lives! No matter what happens in my life, that truth gives me hope for change. MTJ |
| Note: This post is linked to Spiritual Sundays (hosted by Charlotte). |  |
4 comments:
Job and his faith are fascinating! The changes in his life were so dramatic. But why did Job experience the absence of God, when God promised to be present? One side is an easy answer: God tested Job's faith. Job must believe in God as real, present and faithful one, not only when it is easy or because things are going well. Such experience would affirm that a belief and faith would actually be unnecessary. Job must also learn to trust in God when experience and notoriety contradict the faith - as Jesus on the cross, forsaken by God, hanging in agony without consolation. Such faith is infinitely more precious than cheap and disposable faith that leads to the same direction as well as personal experience. Faith with clenched teeth is more precious, not because the suffering is worthwhile itself, but because such belief comes from the depths, from the eternal center of the person, from the human’s ego, self-consciousness, from the will and not from the feelings, not from the parts of people that depend on the ambiance and on what’s happening in the world. Worldly volition passes, but the personal will not go away. As decided at the time, it was concluded in the eternity. The choice for God in that dark and heartless center is measured by much safer and deeper faith where the eternal salvation will happen. The will as guardian of our feelings must learn to lead forward. God establishes and perfects Job's faith and faithfulness in the furnace of suffering.
Thank you for inspiring me to read about Job. Now, I can better understand the changes in my own life.
A thought provoking post. Yes, change is inevitable. When I look back over my life I see so many changes that have taken place. I never would have dreamed I would be where I am now doing what I am doing. We never know where the Lord will lead us. Change in my case has been good.
Thank you for sharing this with us on Spiritual Sundays.
Blessings,
Charlotte
Wow. I am so glad I visited. Very good. I am thankful for all the changes that has led me to where I am. It was hard due to many things I have endured but the Lord is faithful.
Rozalija Baričević: For me, it is important to understand this experience of Job, but even more importantly is to understand how to apply these biblical principles to my own life. Will I trust God when the circumstances of my life change? Will I realize that what I'm going through is merely temporary? Trusting God is not a given, it is a conscious decision I make in my daily life. This is something I must never lose sight of. Thank you for sharing your thoughts and insight.
Charlotte: Your words remind me of something I read by another blogger (Sharon), who wrote about the ability of God to see ahead of the road we travel on in our life. I have no ability to see what lies ahead, but the Lord does. It is His insight, awareness, and direction that gives me confidence to trust Him with the outcome. I haven't said it often enough Charlotte, but I appreciate the light of Christ which shines through you by allowing a forum for believers to meet and share what God is saying to our hearts, how God is touching, healing and saving lives, and the joy of salvation.
Mrs. Chrissy T: I am comforted by the word which says, "And God is faithful; he will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear. But when you are tempted, he will also provide a way out so that you can endure it. (1 Cor. 10:13, NIV) For me, knowing that God gives grace to endure the circumstances we face is truly a blessing.
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