Narrative Lectionary Key Verse for Today
“Then Job answered the Lord: ‘See, I am of small account; what shall I answer you? I lay my hand on my mouth. I have spoken once, and I will not answer; twice, but will proceed no further.’”
NL Daily Devotion for Saturday, July 11, 2020
by R. Fergus Moir, Clergy Stuff
At the end of the day, I’m not God. I may think, like Job, that I know a thing or two, that my complaints are justified, that my suffering is unfair, that I’m entitled to a pain-free existence. But when I try to re-make the world into my own image, (a) I will always fail and become more bitter and frustrated and (b) I will never be able to acknowledge and appropriately address my suffering. I will, in short, stay stuck, and compound my own misery. Job finally gives up arguing with God, gives up justifying himself and his bitterness. He finally develops the humility to realize that he is not God.
I find that when I let God be God, and accept that suffering is an inevitable side effect of being a living person, when I lean into God knowing that God is in the midst of my suffering, feeling it right along with me, when I ask God’s help directly and in and through the people around me, then I begin to heal. To grow. To strengthen. And through my suffering, I learn compassion for all who suffer, and see how God calls me to share their place just as God does.
Gracious God, lovingly guide me through my challenges so that I may in turn offer love and strength to others. Amen.
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