The Bad, the Ugly and the Good

I don't want this blog to become political, but right now my husband and I contemplate our future. For those of you who don't live in California and don't know what's going on with the budget, our state has none. And it hasn't for quite some time. So our governor is proposing cuts in education which directly effect my husband. As the school district he works for discusses the options facing them (pay cuts, lay-offs, increasing our medical insurance contribution) I wonder what the legislators are giving up. Our family, as well as many others, will be forced into giving up not elaborate luxuries (because we have never been able to afford those), but groceries, family outings, heating, gas, etc.

While I know this is a wonderful test of our faith, it's still frustrating. However, I recently read the Book of Job and found comfort in it. Job was a faithful servant, so much so that God "bragged" about him to Satan. Satan asked if he could test Job and God agreed. Job lost all his wealth and his children were killed in one tragic event. Then Job was stricken with boils. While he suffered to the point of praying for death, he continued to praise God as all powerful.

Job 23:13-16 "But he stands alone and who can oppose him? He does whatever he pleases. He carries out his decree against me, and many such plans he still has in store. That is why I'm terrified before him; when I think of all this, I fear him. God has made my heart faint; the Almighty has terrified me."

While he was miserable, his friends came and, basically, rubbed salt in his wounds. They told him how he must have been sinful in order for God to turn on him so.

"If you return to the almighty, you will be restored." (Job 22:23)

"God does not spurn the blameless man or let the sinner live on in all his power." (Job 36:5)

"The wretched, however, he saves by their wretchedness, and uses distress to open their eyes." (Job 36:15)

God hears Job's complaining and speaks to Job:

"Will the one who contends with the Almighty correct him? Let him who accuses God answer him!" (Job 40:2)

Job's reply is "I am unworthy."

God questions Job on his abilities compared to God's abilities. Job replies:

"I know that you can do all things; no plan of yours can be thwarted." (Job 42:2)

God is so impressed with Job's faith that when He brings Job back to health, He doubles his previous wealth and number of children. By the way, He tells Job's "friends" that they've got it all wrong and should ask Job to pray for them.

What's this have to do with my current situation? While I can stress over it, nothing will change because of my anxiety. God has His plan and I can't change it. All I can do is pray for His guidance so that we can make the right choices to get through it to the place He wants us to be. We can choose blessings or curses. I choose His blessings.

I am also comforted that bad things don't happen to us because God thinks we deserve them. They happen because, as any good father would, He wants us to learn and grow. And I know He would never give us more than we can handle.

By faith, God, I follow.