This week felt like I was playing softball with Murphy. You know Murphy’s Law right? He’s the one that throws curve balls and an occasional screwball.  Okay like it or not, let’s Play Ball!

Yep, we live with life’s curveballs.  This week, the Home Show, we planned to attend, was canceled due to Legionnaire’s disease.  Well, I enjoy breathing without hacking, so… what to do? What to do?  We canceled the motel and made our way to North Carolina.  We are making our own home show.

I wish could gripe about work but, alas I cannot.  I’ll just say we were busy “putting out fires.” Yesterday we packed up and left town and I wrote this post from the van’s passenger’s seat yesterday as we crossed state lines.

Asking the Holy Spirit to guide my fingers, they played with the letters as my shoulders dropped.  When I write, I rest for a moment.  He calmed my spirit.  Then I remembered who it was that played ball with the devil…

Disclaimer: I’m not a sports fan but I have enjoyed a few ball games in my day.  Please excuse me while I take some literary license.

My friend Job played this game too. Think about it. The owner of the Team Peace is approached by Team Evil. God tells the evil one about his servant Job. A challenge is given and accepted:

“But stretch out your hand and strike everything he owns, and he will curse you to your face. “Very well,” the Lord told Satan, “everything he owns is in your power…”                  [Job 1:11-12*]

The game is on! Team Evil calls out Pitcher Murphy’s Law! Before Job can take a breath, his bat swings as messenger after messenger arrives across the home plate describing the destruction of his holdings and children.  In the second inning, God allows the evil one to prove Job will curse God by taking Job’s health.

The game continues with his wife and friends berating him. The curveballs of denial, anger, bargaining, and depression get lobbed at Job as he grieves his losses.  After all the wicked deeds, curveballs, screwballs, and talk, God in the whirlwind stops the game.  [Job Chapters 38-41*]  He questions Job.

God’s questions are not only for Job.  They apply to all of mankind. Here are just two of God’s questions.  “Would you really challenge my justice?  Would you declare me guilty to justify yourself?”  How can I answer that?  Do I question God Almighty to justify my actions?  Whoops, I better be careful.

It is easy to get comfortable with feel-good scriptures and uplifting messages from the pulpit.  God wants us to be comfortable in his presence.  But there is more to our God.  It’s not just sitting in my jammies hanging with my Lord.

He is God Almighty!  He is to be worshiped.  Our faith has to go beyond feel-good beliefs.  I need to turn away from my pride by bending my knee before the King of Kings.  He cannot be denied.

Job was not perfect.  He missed a few of those curveballs.  This is how Job responded to God’s questions:

“You said “Listen now and I will speak.  When I question you, you will inform me.”  I had heard reports about you, but now my eyes have seen you.  Therefore, I reject my words and am sorry for them; I am dust and ashes.” [Job 42:4-6]

Job accepts his lack of understanding and hits the winning home run by asking for forgiveness.  The next passage requires Job’s friends to offer sacrifice for not speaking the truth about God.  Job is told by God he will pray for his friends.  They all humbled themselves and did as commanded.  The scripture says:

“… and the Lord accepted Job’s prayer.  After Job had prayed for his friends, the Lord restored his fortunes and doubled his previous possessions.” [Job 42:9-10]

And how is this for a blessing?  Verse 12 says:  “So the Lord blessed the last part of Job’s life more than the first.”

My week was not as bad as Job’s trial!  While Murphy may have stressed me out, I’m glad I played his game.  Without a stressful, crazy week I wouldn’t have perceived this lesson in the scripture.

I sought the comfortable God this week.  We talked and talked.  Oy!  My poor husband!  I tried to figure it out on my own.  After reading Job’s answer I asked for forgiveness too.  It is okay to not understand God or His Ways.  I will remember who He is.  God, Almighty.**

May God bless you today

Milly

*Christian Standard Bible

**See Genesis 35:11

An update from Milly to my Readers:

Unfortunately, I could not complete my post on time this week.  For me the wait was worth the lesson.  I woke this morning with peace.  I will start the NaNoWriMo challenge today.  No, I didn’t start it yesterday, but this was so much more important to me.  It will be a beautiful crazy month with the Lord.  We head back on Tuesday and I plan to update you on the way back!  Have a blessed weekend.  Milly