About, face! “Kiss the gracious rod,” said the Lord today. I got stunned on Friday by finding out that I didn’t get the job I applied for within the company. I have been distrought this weekend, stewing in my anguish. Every time I thought about it, my happiness evaporated. Cannot believe how upset I’ve been. I really thought I was the best qualified for the job, but today there is finally a face to put to the cubicle I wanted. I’ve been angry all weekend. I’ve been jipped and unfairly dealt with. Or so I have thought.
In the back of my mind, I know it is God orchestrating such circumstances. I feel like every day I go to work that I am swallowing my pride to offer customer service. I don’t get paid very much, I get monitored closely, and on busy days I can go up to 90 minutes without having time to breath. I get some of the most bonehead questions any seasoned christian could imagine. “Not many wise, not many mighty, not many noble” (1 Cor.1:26). This could not be more true of our customers. My problem is that I judge my circumstances by whether they make much of me. Rarely do I consider how much they can make of Christ. I weep in shame for my faithlessness in the infinite One. Oh, that I could rap my lips around the rod and embrace the painful path of grace! It is painful because it strips me of myself. It kicks away the crutches so that I may be carried. God has been dismantling me in many ways.
Gracious God, to clothe me in Christ! For letting me taste your beauty today! Thank you for letting me peak around the corner of the path today! Brew in me more faith in Your Wisdom.
5 comments so far
D
I’m kneelin right next to ya! so enjoyed the ’ship on Sunday…we speak the same language! How huge in every way, shape and form is our God…and He will not leave you in the pit alone!
lets talk…
big love,
DAO
This reminds me of what we were talking about Sunday with respect to Piper’s sermon on Luther.
“For Luther, trials make a theologian. Temptation and affliction are the hermeneutical touchstones. Luther notices in Psalm 119 that the psalmist not only prayed and meditated over the Word of God in order to understand it; he also suffered in order to understand it. Psalm119:67, “Before I was afflicted I went astray, but now I keep thy word … 71 It is good for me that I was afflicted, that I may learn Thy statutes.” An indispensable key to understanding the Scriptures is suffering in the path of righteousness.”
-John Piper
How wonderful and gracious the Lord is to show these things in the midst of your own trial. I believe He is making you into a better theologian. Thanks for sharing! I believe God is and will be using this time to work great things in you! Thanks for your freindship, input, and transparency. I’ll be praying with you as well.
Ro 8:28 And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him,[a] who[b] have been called according to his purpose.
I give thanks to God for you, man. Especially for enduring this let down with integrity. Glad we could talk a little about it this weekend over pizza. Let’s talk soon.
Most certainly with you in this pain . . . I really am sorry it did not work out better for you. I was certainly hopeful in this regard. I do admire your ability to work through this situation however.
thanks for the group hug and prayer guys. it is helping me indeed. also want to give a shout out to my homey Sam who also got looked over on this who could be great at this type of job. we are in the same boat bud.
Line and paragraph breaks automatic, e-mail address never displayed, approval may be required for first time posters, HTML allowed:
<a href="" title=""> <abbr title=""> <acronym title=""> <b> <blockquote cite=""> <code> <em> <i> <strike> <strong>