I used to keep this quote by Francis Chan by the front door: "The decisions we make next year will be profoundly affected by the degree to which we submit to the Spirit, right now, in today's decisions."
Today I was reminded that faithfulness, obedience, and contentedness in response to chaos, hurt, and disappointments are not made during crisis. They're made in the everyday moments.
Thinking of Job... his response to bless the Lord was not just a lucky, half-coherent response as he reeled from the enormity of the loss he suffered. He had made that decision countless times beforehand. He blessed the Lord through disappointments, setbacks, misery, sickness, poverty... he must've. It is just not in human nature to choose the right response, the faithful response the first time around.
"I will bless the Lord at all times; His praise shall continually be in my mouth." Psalm 34:1
I needed this reminder today - to bless the Lord even when I'm disappointed and hurt in the little things.
thank you for this! i'm reading through Job right now, and i'm continually struck by his confidence in God. (i love it when the Bible surprises me!) this articulates, i think, how he's so unwavering.
ReplyDeletea wonderful observation.
ReplyDeletei think i needed to read this. :)