What I Feared, What I Dreaded
We direct our lives by our values. What do you value? This isn't a philosophical exercise. What's really important to us becomes obvious in our choices and responses.
Many have interpreted the passage of Job 3.25-26 to be a proof text espousing positive thinking and positive confession. I think that approach to life is similar to some paunchy middle-aged guy buying a pair of running shoes, running shorts and shirt, warm-ups and ball cap, all in red and white with an Arkansas Razorback logo and thinking he is now like the NCAA National Champion Track Team athletes.
It takes more than clichéd phrases and forced mental images to change the substance of who we are. It is "out of the substance of the heart that the mouth speaks." Parrots can be taught to mimic.
Job said, "I have no peace, no quietness; I have no rest, but only turmoil." If you can't relate to that statement of Job's, you don't need to finish reading this Worship Moment..." I certainly enjoy being around truly positive people. I find it refreshing and invigorating to fellowship with someone who has a good and encouraging word, a relaxed smile and a quick wit.
What I find among those gentle, uplifting Christians is a confidence born of hours of prayer and lots of experience in the furnace of life. I find that a calmly confident, full of peace and hope Christian is one who has truly heard from God in the depth of their soul.
When Job made his cry, "What I feared...what I dreaded..." he had not yet heard the "I AM" speak from The Throne. The Voice had not yet vibrated deep within him. Job had yet to surrender his right to complain, question, and present a defense. Only when Job would come to that point could he experience the Voice that could still troubled seas, raise the dead, restore health and sight, forgive sin, and bring hope even to grieving women in the garden.
Before there can be authentic hope and peace in my voice there has to be a depth of hope and peace within my soul. There is a song that speaks of being "broken and spilled out..." What a wonderful expression of the pathos God wants from us!
Are you approaching God wanting sympathy? That's what Job wanted. Don't go there...you just might hear the "WHERE WERE YOU..." thundering from the heavens. He KNOWS what you are going through. He wants you to run to him for shelter, not sympathy. He IS the Shelter in the Time of Storm!
Once sheltered we find our voice to sing! We find our hope and peace and joy. We find our satisfaction that all is well. We discover what really is important.
If you are out hunting for your fortune, seeking your moment of fame, trying to be somebody, wanting to be a 'winner.' Be careful, you just might lose it all. Jesus said you must lose this stuff that has become the substance (goals, values) of your life, in order to find your life. Paul said of this that he had to "count it all as loss" in order to find the real value, treasure, that is knowing Jesus.
So what is your song today? Is it the "song of praise...Hallelujah" or have you not yet given up on getting sympathy?