I’m so in Love……
With Job.
Yes, with Job.
It is absolutely no secret on my team, and on the 3 other teams I have lived with that the very mention of Job makes me tear up and start sobbing. It’s kinda weird, I’ll admit it. Some people on the squad love coming up to me and saying “JOB” really loud just to see my reaction.
Since being on the Race I have had so many deep discussions on Job and what he means to others. One lady I had dinner with came to Christ because of Job. Through a translator I found out that the reason she kept going on with her pursuit of becoming a Christian was because “I felt that if Job could keep going and with all of his problems, why couldn’t I?” how remarkable is that?
Although I struggle with a lot of things in the book of Job, with God, with Satan… I can’t help but fall head over heals in love with Job. I mean, c’mon, that man was such a baller to put up with all that. May I be so bold as to say that he was graceful during that entire stint of insanity he was put through? Some would beg to differ. I have heard some people say that he didn’t handle it well. And to that I just put my hand up to them (like they did in the 90’s… talk to the hand)!
Job and I have a tight relationship. The nights before training camp I read through that book and then we read it out loud on the drive down. At training camp they preached on Job. At launch I dove deeper into Job. And now that I’m on the race, I talk more about him than I could ever have dreamed of.
I tell people all the time I cannot wait to get to heaven and find Job… right after I hug the Lord of course. But SERIOUSLY I cannot wait to do a run and jump on Job and tell him how I feel. I can’t wait to hear what was going on in his head when all that was going on.
Do I sound crazy yet? Probably….
Oh, Job, how I can’t wait to wash your feet. Then we’re going to go and have a cup of coffee (grande caramel frappacino, soy, no whip) and you’re going to tell me all about it. I want to hear your first hand account of what you thought when your friends were giving you crazy advice.
I want to meet your family that was killed. I want to pet your sheep that were killed. I want to have dinner with all of them. We’re going to have a grand old time together, me and you. Yes, I do believe there will be sheep in heaven… but that’s a different discussion.
Are you still with me? Do you think I have completely lost it? Does it sound like I am crazy obsessed with Job?
When I cry out to God about my support raising process or about a frustrating moment here on the Race I look back and think to what Job was feeling. I can’t help but after reading this part that I guess I don’t have it so bad… and to buck up and press on.
Job 7 2:6
Why is life so hard?
Why do we suffer?
We are slaves in search of shade; we are laborers longing for our wages.
God has made my days drag on and my nights miserable.
I pray for night to end, but it stretches out while I toss and turn.
My parched skin is covered with worms, dirt, and sores, and my days are running out quicker than the thread of a fast-moving needle.
Every time God has come through for me in some form or another while on the Race, and of course before my time on the Race as well. It’s just that now I notice it way more because it’s usually in a tangible way. And in those times it feels so good to be rescued, interceded by, loved on, pursued and filled by a downpour of love from God.
Job 42 12
The lord now blessed Job more than ever, he gave him fourteen thousand sheep, six thousand camels, a thousand pair of oxen, and a thousand donkeys.
Only the Lord could work in the ways that He did with Job. And for that I am so grateful.
Love you God and Job!
