Good morning and welcome to Our Daily Walk.
Audio version at http://tinyurl.com/2dffte
Have you ever just had “one of those days?” Everything that possibly could go wrong does go wrong. Some times we refer to it as Murphy’s Law.
Maybe you are running late for an appointment, the low fuel light comes on in the car, every traffic light seems to turn red just for you, and then a train decides to cross just before you reach the tracks.
Frustrations are commonplace in our busy lives. Sometimes we think we are really suffering stresses and difficulties when in reality we really aren’t having that bad of a day.
Judith Viorst is the author of a very insightful children’s book, Alexander and the Terrible, Horrible, No Good, Very Bad Day. Alexander’s day is so bad that he decides he will just leave and go to
What more can a young boy endure? It was in fact a terrible, horrible, no good, very bad day.
Stories are told often of the misfortunes of people. Some have great tragedies thrust upon them. I’m always curious to view how people react to these bad days. It says much about their character….about their faith.
Job was a man of outstanding character. In fact, God testified of Job saying that he was “a blameless and upright man, one who fears God and shuns evil.” Job 1:8.
Job was not perfect, but by our standards he was very close. Yet despite his faithfulness to God, Job suffered a really, really bad day. In the short span of one day, Job was visited by four messengers, each with very bad news. As one would barely finish with his bad news, the next one would appear with more bad news.
“Now there was a day when his sons and daughters were eating and drinking wine in their oldest brother’s house, and a messenger came to Job and said, ‘The oxen were plowing and the donkeys feeding beside them, when the Sabeans raided them and took them away—indeed they have killed the servants with the edge of the sword; and I alone have escaped to tell you!’ While he was still speaking, another also came and said, ‘The fire of God fell from heaven and burned up the sheep and the servants, and consumed them; and I alone have escaped to tell you!’ While he was still speaking, another also came and said, ‘The Chaldeans formed three bands, raided the camels and took them away, yes, and killed the servants with the edge of the sword; and I alone have escaped to tell you!’ While he was still speaking, another also came and said, ‘Your sons and daughters were eating and drinking wine in their oldest brother’s house, and suddenly a great wind came from across the wilderness and struck the four corners of the house, and it fell on the young people, and they are dead; and I alone have escaped to tell you!” Job 1:13-19.
I can’t imagine any one of those things happening. Yet all of this devastating news is delivered to Job in succession, one messenger after another. What would you do with such a bad day? Here’s what Job did.
“Then Job arose, tore his robe, and shaved his head; and he fell to the ground and worshiped. And he said, ‘Naked I came from my mother’s womb and naked I shall return there. The Lord gave, and the Lord has taken away; Blessed be the name of the Lord.’ In all this Job did not sin nor charge God with wrong.” Job 1:20-22.
Difficult days will come to everyone. What happens to us is not nearly as important as how we react to it.
In Our Daily Walk today may we be reminded to praise God in the bad times as well as in the good times. May we remember the fundamental points that helped Job to remain righteous—1) fear God, and 2) shun evil.
Our thought for the day: “The game of life is not so much in holding a good hand as playing a poor hand well.” H. T. Leslie.
May God bless you on your daily walk.
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