CHONIES— the Hebrew word for “underwear”
NOT REALLY, but that’s what my leadership team, in our post 96 hour travel day delirium came to the conclusion of.
I know, it sounds crazy, but hang with me… I promise I’m going somewhere with this…
I’m currently reading Job and doing a study on Suffering & the Sovereignty of God.
In the times of the people of the Old Testament, ripping off your clothes and running around in your “chonies”, if you will, was a really common thing. In fact, here are a couple of examples:
1. Genesis 37 when Jacob thought his son Joseph was murdered.
2. Esther 4 when Mordecai hears King Xerxes is trying to wipe out the Jewish population.
3. Samuel 12 when David’s son was sick.
And in Job 16, we find the same circumstances. This act was an outward expression of the internal struggle, pain, and grieving the person was feeling.
I think this is actually a discipline I could practice more.
Why?
It’s not easy for me nor is it fun. It’s easier to run away and bury myself in the busy-ness of life, or hide in front of a television watching Netflix for hours.
Because when we choose to actually feel the depths of the emotions at hand, we come to a deeper sense of vulnerability with the Father. When we are willing to bear our entire hearts, it actually compels God towards compassion.
SO, SIT IN YOUR CHONIES! Invite yourself into the fullness of discovering a new understanding of God’s character. But in doing so, remind yourself of the truths of His character. It’s important to acknowledge our emotions and validate them.
However, emotions aren’t always full truth.
When we sit in our chonies without a full grasp on scripture and without rooting ourselves in His identity, it’s easy to allow emotions to then shape our ways of thinking thus changing the reality of God’s sovereignty.
Job is a perfect example of the balance. He allowed himself to feel the extremity of losing everything he had, but he never let those emotions of pain and sadness to impose on the idea that God was still sovereign because he knew His character.
He was deeply rooted in truth.
Sanctify them in the truth; your word is truth. -John 17:17
For the LORD your God is the one who goes with you to fight for you against your enemies to give you victory. -Deuteronomy 20:4
Do not let this Book of the Law depart from your mouth; meditate on it day and night, so that you may be careful to do everything written in it. Then you will be prosperous and successful. Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be terrified; do not be discouraged, for the LORD your God will be with you wherever you go.” -Joshua 1:8-9
When it didn’t FEEL like God had his best interests at heart, and when his friends were telling him he was being punished, Job was able to stay faithful to God, and because of this God delights in him.
What Job didn’t know was that his suffering was actually to prove Satan that God’s love was sufficient enough for people to stay faithful– not because of the circumstances and blessings He gives us. We receive that insight from the beginning chapters of Job in order to learn and grasp deeper knowledge of God.
That’s often the case with us. Sometimes we will never settle on an understanding of why things happen in life, but the good news is that there’s Someone who has full wisdom and understanding and works all things according to His purpose.
