The phone rang. By the time the conversation was over, it
felt like someone knocked the air out of my chest. Before I answered the phone
I was happy, content. I noted that I had a zen-like peace. It was strange
because there were anxious circumstances around me – family, job,
relationships. I was beginning to revel in this feeling of peace which defied
any human understanding.
After the phone call, the brick on my chest was painfully palpable. It
hurt to breathe. But I had to keep going. I made some panicked phone calls then
walked around the block with my husband. I started to beat myself up, wondering
what role I played in this outcome. I came up empty. Then I started to ask why.
The why seemed loud initially, but that zen-like peace wouldn’t disappear; it
When I first moved to CA, everything was brown, dried and parched. Driving on the 101 there was no greenery; it was a shock to my eyes, as coming from NY - the five boroughs, I had never seen anything like this. It was so dry, that anything could start a fire and that is pretty much what happened that fall. Have you heard of the California Wildfires? Once the fires started, they raged and burned anything in their path. It takes a huge effort to contain these fires. We got so many calls that first year due to concern, but fortunately, for us, we were not in the fires' path.
A drought is an extended period of months or years when a region notes a deficiency in its water supply whether surface or underground water. (wikipedia.com)
A drought is not enjoyable - you're being deprived of something that is much needed - this could be physical, emotional or spiritual. A drought leaves you parched, craving refreshment.
In the ecosystem of life, droughts are not meant to be a permanent phase even if they are caused by natural circumstances. Droughts come gradually, therefore when their full blown you cannot force them out of your environment. A lifestyle intervention is necessary beforehand. In the words of John Wooden, "when opportunity knocks it's too late to prepare."
I used to think there were ways to avoid a drought, but for me, it happens because I'm human.
I'm moody, sometimes fickle, prone to being hormonal, etc. Also sometimes circumstances precipitate a drought - job loss, death, divorce, relationship issues, things not working out the way you intended. The combination of being human and circumstances is the perfect storm for a drought.
The good thing is thanks to maturity, droughts don't happen as often.While you going through a dry time, remember to reflect; know that it will pass - weeping may endure for a night, but joy cometh in the morning; pray more which leads to talking to the right people or making different choices; focus on your blessings; humble yourself and find the courage to do what you can to change.
Humans also go through droughts in a spiritual sense. Jesus is the water of life - but sometimes even though he is our Source, we backslide or we willingly choose to ignore Him. As a believer, we can survive the drought because we have someone who will quench our thirst. He is always there - He is always faithful, though we are not.
Sometimes you've got to go through a drought to appreciate what you do have, but remember a drought was never meant to last forever. When a drought ends, refreshing relief is welcomed.
Yea though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil for thou art with me. Psalms 23:4 [NLT]
Job, a righteous man, has been on some roller coaster ride: first he had a lot - he was wealthy with a good family; then he had nothing - he lost all of his possessions, his children and his health. His friends comforted him initially, which was good, but they ended up rebuking him as they "comforted" him. A fourth friend shows up - Elihu, who offered more palatable advice and then disappeared. Then God showed up out of the whirlwind and questioned Job.
When we recite the story of Job, we talk about his suffering and his eventual restoration but we often overlook what happens before Job is restored.
After God confronted Job, he is humbled and expressed it in Job 42:2-6[NLT]:
I know that you can do all things;
no purpose of yours can be thwarted.
You asked, ‘Who is this that obscures my plans without knowledge?’
Surely I spoke of things I did not understand,
things too wonderful for me to know.
“You said, ‘Listen now, and I will speak;
I will question you,
and you shall answer me.’
My ears had heard of you
but now my eyes have seen you.
Therefore I despise myself
and repent in dust and ashes.”
Job is humbled and acknowledged the sovereignty of God. I think as humans we struggle with sovereignty - it's not a concept we are comfortable giving to other humans because we feel they are just like us. But God is not just like us - he is above us and defies human comprehension and is worthy of ascribing sovereignty. He can become like man and interact with us, but he is not only a man; He is omnipotent, omniscient and omnipresent.
Job also acknowledged his ignorance of God - surely I spoke of things I had no knowledge of. This may be the epitome of submission - recognizing that with all of your smarts, you will never be as knowledgeable of God.
He acknowledged that he had a spiritual encounter - not at all similar to what he had with his friends. His friends left him depressed and angry - God did not. As a matter of fact, Job was left in a better place emotionally and spiritually, though at this point in time his situation was still the same.
Job repented - "I despise myself." Job had an about face in his thoughts. Job knew he was a righteous man but after having an encounter with God, though righteous he despised himself. What a change in mindset.
Before Job was restored, God also rebuked Job's friends for the bad advice they gave him and for slandering God; they were wrong in their observations of how God works as it related to Job's life and in general. They did not provide an accurate representation of God's attributes; they totally overlooked God's grace, mercy and sovereignty. Therefore God instructed Job's friends to make a sacrifice and Job had to intercede or pray for them; at which point, God accepted Job's prayers on his friends behalf.
He had 10 more children - and his 3 daughters were considered especially beautiful
Friends came by to console him and to give donations
He went on to live to 140 and saw 4 generations of his children
He died an old man and full of years
We don't know how long Job's trials lasted, but he was never in them alone. God referred to Job as my servant, before the trials started and during the trials.
Sometimes, we wish to be restored and also have our latter greater than our beginning, without actually going through the trial and humbling ourselves. It's not just the going through, it's the changed mindset to one of submission that actually helps us to overcome.
Where are you right now? Are you encouraged by the story of Job? Do your trials make you stronger or bitter? In your trials are you momentarily angry with God or do you accept his sovereignty? Does knowing why you go through anything help you? If yes, how? If no, why not?
After Job went through all of his trials God showed up, but probably not in the way he expected. All along Job had been questioning why all of these terrible things were happening to him. His friends showed up but then they started to speculate and pontificate, making the situation worse, yet Job still had no idea why he was suffering. He didn't realize that this was something that God ordained.
If you've ever had a toddler that kept asking you why, you might be able to relate to Job. When you as the mother or parent finally say, it's because I said so, in that moment you are exerting your parental rights and authority. All questions cease because you said so.
Well, God finally showed up and in a manner of speaking said to Job, it's because I said so.
In Job 38 and 39 God appears to Job out of a whirlwind and immediately sets the tone: God said, "Who is this that darkens counsel by words without knowledge?" I can imagine Job inwardly cringing and saying 'uh oh." God tells him he has to man up: "dress for action like a man, I will question you and you make it known to me.
God proceeds to give Job a dissertation on the universe in the form of questions that Job cannot answer or conceive the answers to:
Where were you when I laid the foundation of the earth?
Have you commanded the morning since your days began and caused the dawn to know its place?
Who kept the sea inside its boundaries and said here your proud waves must stop?
Do you know where the gates of death are located?
Where does light come from and where does darkness go?
Have you visited the storehouses of the snow or seen the storehouses of hail?
Who created a channel for the torrents of rain?
Who laid out the path for the lightning?
Can you direct the movement of the stars?
Do you know the laws of the universe? Can you use them to regulate the earth?
Who gives intuition to the heart and instinct to the mind? (Job 38:36 - my new favorite verse)
And then He goes to the animals in the universe:
Do you know when the wild goats give birth?
Have you watched as deer are born in the wild?
Who gives the wild donkey its freedom?
Will the wild ox consent to being tamed?
He mentions the ostrich who appears dumb but has great speed to protect her offspring.
Have you given the horse its strength or clothed its neck with a flowing mane?
Is it your wisdom that makes the hawk soar and spread its wings toward the south?
Is it at your command that the eagle rises to the heights to make its nest?
And finally - shall a fault finder contend with the Almighty? He who argues with God, let him answer it.
Job is not the first person to think that he could get the answer he wanted from God. At the end of this questioning, Job recognized that even though he wanted answers from God all along, he could not answer God's questions. Job saw his limitations and recognized his weakness. Job was humbled. I want to be aligned with someone who is all powerful - not just a mere man.
In our trials, we are never alone. God is there and if we will just still our minds, we can hear what he is trying to tell us.
Who gives intuition to the heart and instinct to the mind? Job 38:36 [NLT]
Can you remember a time when God showed up? Was it during a tumultuous time? How do you feel about the sovereignty of God - i.e. because I said so?
Job was a lucky man - he had three good friends. When his friends heard of all the calamitous things that had happen to him, the three of them made a plan to see their beleaguered friend. When they saw him they sat with him for seven days and said nothing.
Then they opened their mouths - and it all went downhill from there. Thankfully the friendship survived.
It's great to have friends that can be there for us through the good, but especially the bad. The Bible speaks a lot about friendships; even Jesus had his disciples who were followers and friends. John 15:13-15[NLT]
Job's friends were intentional - when they heard, they got together, and traveled from their homes to be with him. Imagine this, in the time before cell phones or email. The communication was not instantaneous and yet in spite of the elapsed time they made a plan to be there for their friend. Whenever they got there it would be the right time.
Job's friends shared his grief - .When they first saw him they cried loudly - these were some emotional men! Then they sat with him for seven days and seven nights and said nothing for they saw that his suffering was great - this is the epitome of being there for a friend. Your presence alone is a wonderful comfort; nothing needs to be said.
Job's friends were male - we make a big deal today about female friendships and the need for girlfriends, but a little known fact is that men need friendships also and Job had this in spades. Men can be vulnerable and open with each other (in their own way) and reap the benefits of friendship.
Job proved to be a very good friend, for at the end of his trials Job prayed for his friends in spite of some of the things they said to, and about him, and then Job was restored. Is there a correlation?
11 When three of Job’s friends heard of the tragedy he had suffered, they got together and traveled from their homes to comfort and console him. Their names were Eliphaz the Temanite, Bildad the Shuhite, and Zophar the Naamathite. 12 When they saw Job from a distance, they scarcely recognized him. Wailing loudly, they tore their robes and threw dust into the air over their heads to show their grief. 13 Then they sat on the ground with him for seven days and nights. No one said a word to Job, for they saw that his suffering was too great for words. Job 2: 11-13 [NLT]
Human beings seem to do better when they have friends around; it's as if we were wired for this interaction.
How many of us have three good friends? How many of us can forgive our friends and remain friends with them?
As humans, when we hear or say someone's name we automatically think of their attributes. So hopefully, when my children hear my name they automatically smile, or when I hear my husband's name I automatically feel supported. You can have the opposite feelings about a person's name also.
But when you say Jesus - something happens that's supernatural. I can't totally explain it because it's supernatural but for me I feel secure, forgiven, loved, transformed, peaceful and so much more.
This song has been a blessing to me since I heard it on Saturday.
Therefore God exalted him to the highest place
and gave him the name that is above every name,
that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow,
in heaven and on earth and under the earth,
and every tongue acknowledge that Jesus Christ is Lord,
Susan Spencer-Wendel was diagnosed with ALS which is an incurable disease and she chose to live her last year with joy. She didn't complain, but chose to accept her situation and viewed things from an optimistic vantage point. This allowed her to write one of the more uplifting books I've read in a long time.
ALS, a terminal illness also known as Lou Gehrig's disease, has no cure. The body fails but the mind remains strong as muscles slowly atrophy. There is no cure because no one has figured out how to bring dead muscles back to life.
In June 2011, Susan Spencer-Wendel learned she had ALS. She was forty-four years old with a devoted husband and three young children. She had one year of health remaining. This book chronicles her joyous adventure until her passing. Indeed it was joyous as she had many opportunities to be sad and go crazy. As a writer, it was daunting when her left hand withered away and for a year she was in denial. With her one good thumb she typed the book on her iPhone using the Notes feature; that was the only thing she could do. She didn't want people feeling sorry for her, though they did and she made a point of not wallowing in self pity. She had strong friendships and relationships in her life that nurtured her through the disease. Her goal was to create memories with the memorable people in her life. Those people were her husband, children, sister, parents and best friend. Many of the experiences were trips with each trip holding significance for her and the person.
She also talked about some of the day to day realities of losing all of your bodily functions - falling often, slurred words, and having your husband wipe you when do a stinking pickle. She has a beautiful way with words.
Her life was not picture perfect and many of the experiences did not go as she envisioned. She wanted to return the family Bible to her new found family in Cyprus. After many twists and turns and connecting with family members, once she finally got to Cyprus the Bible simply belonged to her father's ex-wife. It had no history. But she was alive and could laugh about it.
"I am the master of my mind; I have a choice about how I feel," this is what allowed her to press on and let go of the indignities that go with a terminal illness. She reinvented, accepted, and moved on.
We all deal with difficult situations, things and people. If we look around, there is a beauty everywhere. If we look up, we know that God has allowed us to live and if we let Him, he will show us how to navigate the trials. As a Christian I am often amazed at how much we can learn from people who aren't Christ-followers. According to her, she wasn't a believer, yet she chose to live out a Biblical truth....count it all joy (James 1:2-3).
Recently, it's been raining frequently here in Southern California; because it's so unusual for over here I actually enjoy it. Today felt like a beautiful east coast fall day with the rain and it gave me a chance to relax and think.
Rain is beautiful - even though so many complain and it seems like an inconvenience, its pros outweigh its cons. Rain waters and refreshes the earth; it cleanses and removes grime; it brings growth.
When I complain about the rain, it's usually because I wasn't expecting and I'm not prepared for it. I may not want my hair to get wet, or catch a cold, or be cold.
One day as a teenager it started to rain profusely and I was totally unprepared - no raincoat, umbrella or boots. It occurred to me at that very moment that I could complain and grumble or I could enjoy it. I chose to enjoy it while walking eight city blocks from the subway to my house and I still remember the feeling of floating. I was wet, my hair was matted, but I was smiling as I walked and the rain felt absolutely refreshing. I stopped thinking about myself and I noticed others smiling along with me.
Rain is a blessing, but sometimes it doesn't seem that way. It's all in how you choose to look at it. As the poet Henry Wadsworth Longfellow says, "Into each life some rain must fall." There's a benefit to the rain.
God saw all that he had made, and it was very good. Genesis 1:31
Enjoy the rain, the sun will shine again!
Is it raining where you are? How are you approaching the rain? Do you feel refreshed or aggravated after being in the rain?
