February 28th Reflection by Bill Lynch

Job 5:8-27 (NRSV)
Seek God
"As for me, I would seek God,
and to God I would commit my cause.
He does great things and unsearchable,
marvelous things without number.
He gives rain on the earth
and sends waters on the fields;
he sets on high those who are lowly,
and those who mourn are lifted to safety.
He frustrates the devices of the crafty,
so that their hands achieve no success.
He takes the wise in their own craftiness;
and the schemes of the wily are brought to a quick end.
They meet with darkness in the daytime,
and grope at noonday as in the night.
But he saves the needy from the sword of their mouth,
from the hand of the mighty.
So the poor have hope,
and injustice shuts its mouth.

"How happy is the one whom God reproves;
therefore do not despise the discipline of the Almighty.
For he wounds, but he binds up;
he strikes, but his hands heal.
He will deliver you from six troubles;
in seven no harm shall touch you.
In famine he will redeem you from death,
and in war from the power of the sword.
You shall be hidden from the scourge of the tongue,
and shall not fear destruction when it comes.
At destruction and famine you shall laugh,
and shall not fear the wild animals of the earth.
For you shall be in league with the stones of the field,
and the wild animals shall be at peace with you.
You shall know that your tent is safe,
you shall inspect your fold and miss nothing.
You shall know that your descendants will be many,
and your offspring like the grass of the earth.
You shall come to your grave in ripe old age,

as a shock of grain comes up to the threshing floor in its season.
See, we have searched this out; it is true.
Hear, and know it for yourself."

Reflection
It's important to remember in the passage of today and yesterday that we are reading the words of Eliphaz as he gives advice to Job during Job's suffering. Job didn't do anything to deserve this hand of trouble dealt to him. We may struggle in life, but that's not always, or if ever, caused by something God has cast our way. Struggles certainly can result in growth of character and a closeness to God that we haven't experienced before, but that doesn't mean that God caused the struggle.

Jesus struggled in the desert for a long time. Jesus knows what to struggle is about and how it feels being human in the midst of struggle. In Jesus struggle came a time of testing that propelled him into God's ministry to all people and the salvation of the world. The results of that long time in the desert became our hope and life and joy of resurrection.

So as we are with friends in the midst of struggle, we walk through the struggle with them knowing that we can't fully understand all that they are going through, but we can feel the pain and understand the hope that all of us have in the joy of Jesus by our side along the way.

Prayer
Jesus, as you struggled in the desert for a long time. Be with me in my struggle and be with me as I am with those you give to me in the midst of their struggles that all may see your glory and your plan for our lives as we look forward to the fruits of what you freely give to all in the resurrection. --- Amen