Remember—God Reaches Out to Our Children (360 hits)
This weekend, my husband told our son and daughter about an experience he'd had at church camp as a kid. The story was very personal and described his walk w Christ. My daughter's response: "You had to go to church camp?" I can relate. My greatest watershed-Jesus moments did not happen with the music and the memory verses and the traditional church setups. Still, as Christian parents, nothing is more important to us in this world than our kids developing deeply meaningful, personal relationships with God. I feel crippling pressure to ensure we seal the deal. I pray with panic, "Dear God, what if I do this wrong? What if I say this wrong?" His answer: Sometimes, Janelle, I speak for myself.
It is a great relief to me when God reminds me that he reaches out personally to my children. I take him at his word. I believe it with all my heart. Well, pretty much. I mean, these are my kids. My best shot for reassurance on all things God is to find one of his truths played out in the life of someone in the Bible. So I flipped around in the Bible, looking for a story about joy and ease—the lovely life I want for my children. Instead, I landed on that man from Uz named Job. When I read Job, I started with the imagery of his happy family and how Job was doing everything God said to do. Then came the side story of Satan cajoling God and God pointing to Job as a stand-up guy. I took a peek at a later chapter to see how it would turn out. I flipped to Chapter 42, where Job called God's things "things far too wonderful for me" (Job 42:3). This shouldn't be too bad.
Back to the beginning. I dug through the early chapters. Satan cut loose on Job's life. Job's family died. He was covered in painful sores. And I thought to myself, God's doing something wonderful. I'm looking for the wonderful. Meanwhile, Job's wife told Job to curse God. Job's three friends came along with advice and encouragement that neither advised nor encouraged. Hello, wonderful? Anybody got a wonderful? I'm not seeing anything wonderful. But Job did.
I've heard believers say that the story of Job is God basically demonstrating this to Job: I am God, you are not. Pretty rough. I'd say so too! Who wouldn't? Um, Job. Job knew his terrible circumstances didn't make sense. He was willing to stick with God, but still he was confused, wanted answers, and wouldn't settle for the party line. Job's friends gave him answers that seemed good in church but fell short in life. Their diatribe wasn't untruthful, but it still wasn't Truth.
