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I'm No Job

Let me just get this out there - I'm no Job!  I've been thinking about him a lot and how his response to trouble when it comes is very much NOT like mine. I whine a lot more than he does and honestly, praise doesn't come that easy. Oh, I finally get there - but I always seem to take the long way around.

When Job's trouble started he went straight to his knees; and when it got even more complicated He worshiped. I did not. He seemed so at peace with his life whether he could physically see God's blessings or was standing there stripped bare. Job said we need to take both good and bad from the hand of the Lord. And he said that when things were bad.

 For a long time now I've noticed that people tend to say "God is good" only when things go their way. You know, they get a raise, their loved one escapes a horrific wreck, a kid graduates from college, or someone gets healed. Why is it we don't hear that when someone gets fired, a loved one is injured in a car crash or a kid drops out of college? lol I notice we only  say it when the world is on our side.

Here stands Job who was more than just a wealthy man. His "friend" Eliphaz describes Job in the first part of chapter 4 as one who encouraged many a troubled soul to trust in God and as one who supported the weak. Yet here he stands with empty hands and broken body still trusting God. Now sadly, I cannot say I've done that.

This weekend was a series of events that left me emotionally drained and fighting off a cloud of depression. I'll spare you the details because I assume as caregivers you've at least been there on occasion. For me it's  about the time some things seem to be coming together, my son makes improvements, work is constant and I am keeping up and this very abnormal life is chugging along decently, then some little cog gets stuck and I get stuck once again. I stomp around a bit, shake my fist at God for letting this happen to me and my family, and just get overall grumpy.

It seems the whole point of Job's test was to see if he would curse God to His face. But Job did not. He continued to trust, continued to praise, kept on worshiping, and did not waiver in his faith. I on the other hand, when I crash like I did this weekend, eventually come back around to trust and worship. Maybe my trip through emotional distress back to worship isn't taking quite as long as it used to, but I still crash and take that little journey. I can definitely say I am no Job. But I am getting there. Slowly.

Today, rather than condemning myself to die a thousand deaths (lol) I'm going to encourage myself to worship. I'll turn my focus to the things I've seen God do rather than what I think He's not doing. And even though it's not been my immediate response, I'll say with Job blessed be the name of the Lord. I'll remind myself that God is good period, no matter what happens in the day of a caregiver's life. I'll meditate on His goodness, His forgiveness, and His never-ending mercy toward me today. And for just one more day - I'll lay aside my emotions and worship Him for who He is - not for what I want. I'll trust Him for one more day. Will you join me?
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Comments

  1. UnknownFebruary 21, 2017 at 9:09 AM

    Just"found" your devotions. God lead I'm sure 😊. Thank you for sharing your heart and your life. I'm my moms caregiver in our home.

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    1. Jeanie OlingerFebruary 23, 2017 at 4:43 AM

      Hi Paula. I'm glad you found us! I hope you are blessed and encouraged by the devotions. Thank you for joining us, thank you for taking care of your mom, and thank you for reading!

      Jeanie

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  2. Leslie RichardsonFebruary 22, 2017 at 3:28 AM

    My oh my...you are not alone here, sister. Praise God for His goodness, mercy and strength that it DOESN'T take as long as it used to, that progress IS made, that perfection ISN'T required, and that His grace IS sufficient.

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    Replies
    1. Jeanie OlingerFebruary 23, 2017 at 4:45 AM

      Hi Leslie. Amen on things not taking quite as long as they used to (on most days at least!)! Thankfully progress is progress - no matter how small it may seem. And if perfection was required....sheesh! Who would make it? :-)

      Thanks for sharing your thoughts and thanks for reading!

      Jeanie

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