So, here I am on Monday, staring at my computer…
I got nothing.
That's what I'm thinking – I have no idea what to write about.
So, Lord – what do You want to say?
"I want to say that I love My children…more than they'll ever know."
Do you know that, my friends?
Deep in your soul, where no one else sees your sorrows, your hurts, your disappointments – deep in your soul, do you know that you are loved by The One?
My one-year Bible reading plan currently has me in the book of Job. Oh, how I have a love/hate relationship with the book of Job.
I love Job's honesty – I love that he questioned God – deeply and poignantly.
I hate that God didn't give Job any concrete answers – I hate that it all seems unfair.
And yet…
I love that God did something better!
Job ranted and railed at the heavens. He questioned and doubted and struggled. And yet – not once, not ever – did he deny the Lord.
And the Lord did something amazing.
He showed up.
No, he didn't answer Job's questions – but He did give Job The Answer.
In a sign of miraculous love, God did not send a lightning bolt and zap Job where he sat. He didn't let Job die.
Instead, He showed Job a tremendous courtesy by appearing in person.
The King stepped down to earth in a whirlwind –
He was stern with Job, but it was tough love. The Lord brought Job to repentance, but He did it to bring Job closer to Him, to bring him to a deeper faith.
"I had only heard about you before, but now I have seen you with my own eyes." (Job 42:5)
God showed Job that knowing Him was better than knowing why.
This wasn't the last time that God stepped down to earth. And it wasn't the last time that the appearance was motivated by love.
A wooden cross still casts it shadow across humanity – across the human heart. On that day we came face to face with The Answer.
Yes, we will question, and doubt, and struggle. We might do some ranting and railing at the heavens (I've done some of that lately – have you heard me??)
But, at the end of the day, what I KNOW is this:
He loves His children –
And knowing that He loves me is more than enough to answer the cries of my heart.
Knowing God is better than knowing why…
BLOG = "Blessedly Leaning On God!"
This is beautiful, and it's a very timely reminder for me.
ReplyDeleteWow, "knowing God is better than knowing why" is such a poignant line, Sharon. I must admit sometimes the whys cloud my mind. But ultimately I know even when I never get an explanation of the why, that God has a plan and it is for my God. Thanks for passing along the Father's message to us today.
ReplyDeleteBlessings.
I just finished my devotional and then the Lord said..."go to Sharon's post today!" I obeyed and I know why, these words are for me. I am going through a Job season and all the whys and asking and crying, and surrendering to His will, not that I have a choice. So thanks for setting down and letting God speak to me through your words.
ReplyDeleteSo is this what it looks like when you've 'got nothing??'... :)
ReplyDeleteThis was timely for me too Sharon, and cements my own thoughts this morning.
xo
Amen Sharon!! you had "nothing" but God gave you "something" to share with us; words we need to remember, get into our very heart and soul and never forget how much he loves us! I'm with you about Job. Lots of lessons in that book. It also for me is what not to say to someone who is going through grieving. You listen to his friends talk and their arrogance about things and situations and the words they choose to say. Makes me just think sometimes being with a grieving person the best thing to do is hold their hand and be quiet.
ReplyDeletethanks for sharing your heart and God's word today!
betty
I found your title funny because on facebook yesterday I typed that same phrase.
ReplyDeleteLoved your post Sharon.
ReplyDeleteWhen you've "got nothin'" , the Lord always has something to give, huh?
Love you, appreciate your honesty and truth!
Bless you Sharon...God sure brought forth a beautiful message from your "nothing". Job and I are so thankful that GOD LOVES US (and you,too!)
ReplyDeleteAMEN to this "Knowing God is better than knowing why…" Beautiful words out of obedience and lessons in Job. Keeping this short... See ya' later, Peggy
You're nothing is quite a bit.
ReplyDeleteI was just thinking, when I got nothing...I got NOTHING, that's why I take pictures, they are worth 1000 words. Your nothing is totally inspiring!
ReplyDeleteAnita Johnson
Hello, sweet friend! We talked about God's love for us on Sunday. My good friend shared with me one of her favorite verses that I think sums up God's love for us awesomely. "How great is the love the Father has lavished on us, that we should be called children of God!" 1 John 3:1 You want to know my favorite part? The exclamation mark. My second favorite part is the use of the word "lavished". God doesn't sprinkle his love on us. He LAVISHES us with it. HOW AWESOME is that!?
ReplyDeleteI have a love/hate relationship with the book of Job too. I can be so critical of his friends, and yet, I know if I were a character in this book, I'd be cast as one of them. God's not through with me yet though. I'm a work in progress!
Hi Sharon -
ReplyDeleteI love this that you expressed, "God showed Job that knowing Him was better than knowing why."
A hearty Amen to that.
Some of my favorite scriptures are from the book of Job.
From the King James Bible:
Job 11:18,19
And thou shalt be secure, because there is hope; yea, thou shalt dig about thee, and thou shalt take thy rest in safety.
Also thou shalt lie down, and none shall make thee afraid;...
Job:27:5, 6
...till I die I will not remove mine integrity from me.
My righteousness I hold fast, and will not let it go: my heart shall not reproach me so long as I live.
Job 23:10-12
But he knoweth the way that I take: when he hath tried me, I shall come forth as gold.
My foot hath held his steps, his way have I kept, and not declined.
Neither have I gone back from the commandment of his lips; I have esteemed the words of his mouth more than my necessary food.
"Knowing God is better than knowing why ..."
ReplyDeleteHoly Moley and YES AND AMEN!!!!
I read this post earlier this week, and I thought I'd commented on it, but apparently I messed something up because it's not here. So let me reiterate how AWESOMELY INCREDIBLE that last sentence is. I'm posting it up on my fridge so I can read it every day. It inspired my next blog post. It couldn't be more TRUE, or more REASSURING!
Thank you so much! That one simple statement has been feeding me for days!
~ Paula
Dear friends!
ReplyDeleteWhat a pleasure to be blessed by all your thoughtful comments. Yes, the Lord always has something to say to me - I just have to stop and listen. And more often than not, His *something* is right there in His Word! (Imagine that! :)
Truthfully, this post was one of those "talking the talk" while in the middle of trying to "walk the walk" for me.
Just today I had two things happen that had me looking up at that old sky again and crying out, "WHY??" And it's like the Lord said to me, "Did you hear what I said to you when you had nothing? YOU HAVE ME!!"
His words to me - I had to hear them again. Yes, Lord - it's really just You. And yes, Lord, I want to know You - even more than I want to know why.
I have been uplifted and encouraged by your wonderful input - thank you for helping me stand firm today!
GOD BLESS!
Knowing God is better than knowing why…
ReplyDeleteI read this after my ranting to God again today! I'm a descendant of Job. I feel I know him so well :) But I never deny the God who remains - in the midst of my loud WHY's. I needed your careful rendering of God's answer thru you today. You brought me once again, back to the WHO, in the midst of my WHY.
I have found that God uses what He speaks through me - for me. He speaks it first to me - cause I'm at that moment of needing it, then again,as I share it on my blog in some form - He's speaking it right at me again. I get double a double whammy that way :)
That's why I journal. Obedient to putting the pencil to paper, even when I have no idea what I'm even feeling. I'm often amazed at how He weaves His spirit around mine as He releases His intimate renderings to me thru my pencil. These are my most precious moments with Him - when I'm totally empty and He just fills me with all of HIM.
Blessings for allowing Him to fill you too with all of HIM
love you
Patrina <")>><
Patrina - Oh, I know that double whammy! But don't you just love it? I love the fact that God speaks to me through my writing. Sometimes it's almost like I can hear His audible voice!
ReplyDeleteI'm in a period of time when there's a lot of WHY's in my life. (By the way, I think we must be long-lost cousins - because I feel like I'm related to Job, too!) This post was obviously something God had to say to me - because I truly did start with nothing. It's neat to know that you have experienced that - so you know the wonder of those precious moments when the Spirit leads, and you end up being ministered to yourself.
I'm blessed that you were encouraged by this today!
Love you - and GOD BLESS!