Five minutes on this one word — SURRENDER. I could write all day….
I began reading through scripture chronologically last fall, at the start of Advent, and picked it up again January 1 with Genesis. For seven weeks those of us reading it together, and commenting on Facebook, celebrated the beauty of creation and lamented the trials of God’s first people. We grieved with Isaac, wrestled with Jacob, feared for the life of Joseph, sailed with Noah.
Then we met Job.
The past week with Job has been a trial, to say the least. Hearing his lament over the loss of everything, feeling his pain as he railed against the God who had been a God of blessing, then bearing up under the conviction offered by his friends — I can tell you now, I’m exhausted.
But today, tucked in Job’s response to his “friend” Bilbad, we hear him point to the only One who is wise and we hear these words of surrender:
God alone understands the way to wisdom;
he knows where it can be found,
for he looks throughout the whole earth
and sees everything under the heavens.
He decided how hard the winds should blow
and how much rain should fall.
He made the laws for the rain
and laid out a path for the lightning.
Then he saw wisdom and evaluated it.
He set it in place and examined it thoroughly.
And this is what he says to all humanity:
‘The fear of the Lord is true wisdom;
to forsake evil is real understanding.’” Job 28:23-28 (NLT)
Job is still longing for the years “when God took care of me, when he lighted the way before me and I walked safely through the darkness.” He acknowledges that those days when he was respected and revered in his community are probably behind him. In a way, he knows that what his friends are saying will likely ring true to those who knew him before — he must have done something terribly wrong for God to punish him in this way. (If you aren’t aware of how he suffered, read the book. It’s heartbreaking.)
He laments, but he surrenders. “It is what it is” says Job. He finally lays down his own wisdom, pointing to the source of all wisdom — the Lord “who looks throughout the whole earth and sees everything under the sun.”
My trials do not compare to Job’s, but even in them, I find that daily I’m called to surrender them to God, the one who has searched the earth and declared that wisdom is found only in fearing the Lord — acknowledging His soveriegnty and His grace.
I surrender.
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Linking up today at Five Minute Friday to write on the one word “surrender”. Join me there, won’t you?
Join the @5minutefriday writing community as we write for five minutes on the prompt, SURRENDER. Click To Tweet
Great reflections on Job! There are definitely situations where we will never understand suffering or why God allows certain things to happen. Reaching that point of surrender, handing it over to God, and accepting that his wisdom is much greater than ours is not easy, but definitely brings peace when we manage to reach that point. Visiting from FMF #22.
Job’s frustration with his friends appears to have been rooted in the truth that they couldn’t understand how he could be angry in his suffering, but still believe in a loving God.
Oh, yes. I surrender too. What a powerful and insightful post. Thank you for sharing. Blessings to you as you bless others.
Thank you, Mari-Anna. What a beautiful name!
I did the Chrono read-thru in 2016 and LOVED it. Job — whew. So much rich stuff in his life.
Indeed! He lived the equivalent of three lifetimes. Proves we never know what’s around the next corner, except a trustworthy God.
I tend to cling tightly to those things that worry me. Oh to be like Job and be able to say “it is what it is”! Hoping to learn to loosen my grip and surrender to God. Thank you for your reminder. Joining you at #fmf Cindy #53
Thanks for dropping by Cindy!
Surely any time we surrender, it will involve laying aside our own wisdom – faith and surrender just go hand in hand. I was really encouraged by your post today!
Thank you, Jennifer.