Where Were You?

Long before Gandalf stood on a bridge and declared " You Shall Not Pass!" to a flaming demon, God issued a similar decree to the waters of the seas:

"Thus far shall you come, and no farther, 

and here shall your proud waves be stayed"

Unlike Gandalf, who cried out in defiance of the balrog, God issues his statement as a someone who already has mastery. It is a command. No confrontation, no questions of authority, just a declarative statement.

I love the power of that statement. The waves in their pride and anger and rage and persistence are themselves a symbol of power and of uncontrollable force and determination. And God doesn't bat an eye as he turns to them and says "that's enough". We see this later in scripture when Jesus controls the winds and waves with a simple command. No power struggle.

Oh that my faith would reflect such a powerful God. A quick look at my life reveals that the functional God of my faith is small and weak compared to the God of scripture. 

I often sing the following to my children:  "My God is so big, so strong, and so mighty, there's nothing my God cannot do!" And then after they are in bed I go back to worrying and doubting and wondering if God is willing or able to work in my life or in the world.

Difficult relationships consume me and I forget that God is a God of reconciliation and redemption.

Or I worry about politics and culture shifts as if God hasn't declared and revealed his sovereignty over rulers and leaders and nations.

Or housing markets decline or the economy turns and I forget that the God I serve, who loves me, owns the cattle on a thousand hills. Indeed all of creation is his.

Or the world presents temptations and attempts to persuade me that God isn't who scripture reveals Him to be. And the temptations and arguments linger in my head and heart and I, like Job and his friends, can begin to question, or grumble or put my trust in savings, health, and a million other little things.

This passage of Job, which reveals the fullness of God's wisdom and knowledge and declares His power and authority, is such a good reminder to those of us with fickle faith and weak hearts. The same God who established the boundaries of the seas and placed the stars in the skies and ordered the seasons also sees us and loves us and reveals himself in us.

Lately, in my struggles and grumblings and frustrations, I have felt convicted that my view of God is pretty small. Thankfully, this Job passage helps steer my eyes back to the great, immeasurable power of God.

A favorite song of mine, taken from Job 38 has been a good reminder of my big, sovereign, and loving God. I hope it can encourage you by way of reminder that your struggles, worries, sufferings, and hardship are not too big for Him.