"Shall we indeed accept good from God and not adversity?” (Job 2:10)

I apologize in advance for the groaner of a wordplay implied in this entry’s title, but I do want to keep some semblance of humor, quirky though it may be, despite the troubled times.  Besides, I don’t want to be melancholy all the time!

As I’ve mentioned already, my impending layoff is often on my mind – especially this month, as my spare evenings have often been filled with seminars on resume writing, interviewing, and so on.  While these things have been very helpful, and will no doubt be invaluable in the coming months, they do have the effect of keeping the job situation front and center for all of us affected by it.

That’s not to say I’m not doing – and enjoying – other things.  I had a great time visiting my parents for Mother’s Day; also present were other members of our extended family.  I’m still looking forward to first light for the C8 – either clouds or busy evenings have precluded it so far.

But a reminder to be thankful for all I do have came from words recently written by Barbara Rainey, whose daughter Rebecca Mutz is mourning the loss of her second child in 11 months.  I don’t have any children, so this is something I can’t even imagine – yet I’m fond enough of toddlers to have the slightest taste of the grief that would come with losing one of them.

Yet look what this grandmother, facing such unimaginable grief, writes:

So this morning I found myself reading Job again. "Shall we indeed accept good from God and not adversity? In all this Job did not sin with his lips" (2:10). I thought about how willingly I accept good every day from God often without a word of gratitude...But when adversity shows up we feel we have a right to complain, to charge God with not intervening as if He were merely our servant…How quickly we blame God in our generation as if we know what is best.

In the last chapter of Job is another statement that jumped to my attention.  His family and friends came to him and ate with him and comforted and consoled him for "all the adversities that the Lord had brought on him" (verse 11).  The source of the adversity is God Himself.  God is in control, yet this story clearly teaches that He allowed these terrible losses and pain and grief to come upon Job. And He never tells Job why.

(Read the whole entry here: http://www.familylifemomblog.com/2009/05/loss-upon-loss-grieving-upon-grieving.html)

These words – from someone enduring trials so much harder than my own – were a powerful reminder to me to be grateful for each sunrise – even if that morning means going to a job I’m losing – and each sunset, the promise of another day given to me by grace alone.

It’s not that I’m ungrateful, but more that I so often take these things for granted, especially in light of the “inconvenience” of my upcoming layoff (to quote one of our seminars).  I have so much: a nice place to live, plenty of food, fresh air, and water.  Tales of incredible grace shown to my own loved ones in literal life-and-death situations.  Wonderful friends – both in real life, and in online forums like NarniaWeb – who have offered such meaningful words of help and encouragement when needed.  And even that big new telescope (which came at a great price, by the way ).

But Mrs. Rainey’s words remind me that a sovereign God will bring adversity as well as good things, even if we cannot see His purpose at the time.  If He is good – and He is – then He’s trustworthy both in good times and bad.  I found it a valuable, timely reminder.

Please pray for me – that I might run with joy the race set before me, keeping my eyes on the prize – not just a job in the here and now, but ultimately, on the Author and Finisher of my faith.

And consider praying for the Mutz and Rainey families as once again they travel this dark and lonely road – that they might find comfort and strength in each other, and especially between the  paws of the true Aslan.