Almighty God or a Vending Machine

May 29, 2019

Surrender your heart to God,turn to him in prayer, and give up your sins—even those you do in secret. Then you won’t be ashamed; you will be confident and fearless. Your troubles will go away like water beneath a bridge, and your darkest night will be brighter than noon. You will rest safe and secure, filled with hope and emptied of worry. Job 11:13-18

Since fear of people makes conflict huge and unresolvable, what do I do? When I am fearful and want to run from the circumstances, what do I want? It would be tremendous if I could be confident and fearless, see my troubles disappear like running water, have my dark night turn into the brightest day. It would be awesome if I could relax, safe and secure, filled with hope and emptied of worry. That’s what Job’s friends told him would happen if he really turned to God. When you read the Bible, you must see who is talking and, as Bible teachers say, look at the context. Don’t look at parts in isolation. Judge them all by the character of God.

Job heard this advice, and he tossed it. Verses 13-15 were true. He knew it. He had done that. THAT was his lifestyle. He wasn’t looking for a magic turnaround. He was IN the situation he was in because Satan wanted to prove he could break him. But Job knew God well enough through their trusting relationship that he was certain if he faced his fears and lived in trusting submission, God would handle it all. But it wasn’t a simple formula. It wasn’t magic; do 1, 2, 3, and the vending-machine God will drop out just what I requested. Job responded in chapter 13, “Even if he kills me, I will still serve him. My flesh may fail, but my hope will always be in him. I know my Redeemer—and he LIVES!” Nothing had changed yet. Job didn’t hope because he could see his situation changing. He was filled with hope, knowing he was ultimately safe and secure, because he was surrendered to the Father who knew him best and loved him most. He was trusting in the God who rules the end result.

• Father, help me get in right relationship with You RIGHT NOW. I don’t know what’s ahead of me, but I do know You. If I surrender to You, if I put my full trust in You, right in the middle of the hottest heat I can find confidence and hope. It doesn’t mean my hands will never shake; it doesn’t mean I will never feel anxiety. But it means that during the anxiety I will find safety and security in You. You will not necessarily immediately change my circumstances, but you will steady me. I don’t know about the end of this conflict, but I do know that You are my Redeemer, and You are alive! You are with me, and when it is over, we will be standing together. I choose NO FEAR, no matter what. Help me.