Tag Archives: Job

Good Catastrophe Book Review

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blue tree Good Catastrophe cover Good Catastrophe by Benjamin Windle combines the biblical story of Job with contemporary illustrations, to emphasize the importance of hope in our darkest challenges and struggles.

Written in a conversational tone, the author ponders what would happen if we reframed how we see hope amidst life’s challenges. He says hope is for the present. In the midst of the storm. Not just for some future day.

By the end of the book, he states that when we can’t understand what is happening, we can put our trust in God. Like Job, that is where our hope rests.

I received a complimentary copy of this book from Bethany House for a fair and honest review, which is exactly what I gave.

Have you read this book? If so, what was your impression of it? I wish you well.

Sandy

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A Man Named Job

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A Man Named Job

If someone mentions the name Job, what’s the first thing we usually think of? Patience in suffering? Trust in God? Friends with not so wise counsel?

The Book of Job is so much more than a beautifully written poetic story about a man who exhibited patience, and endured unimaginable troubles. This is the story of a man named Job who confidently declared, I know my Redeemer lives, and in the end, will stand on the earth.

Job Was A Man Of Hope

The story of Job is not just a story of patience and suffering. It is a story of hope. Hope in a risen Savior. Hope in a Redeemer. Hope in Jesus Christ as Lord. It is a story that should give us hope, even in the midst of our worst trials and troubles.

Job Was A Man Of Trust

The story of Job shows us a man who continued to keep trusting that God had a plan for his life, even when Job couldn’t see it.

Job had no idea of what went on in the heavenly realm between God and Satan. He didn’t know Satan had to ask God’s permission before he was allowed to unleash his evil against the man God pointed out as his servant. All Job could do was keep trusting.

Job Was A Man Who Sought Answers

During his suffering and loss, Job sought an audience with God. He had questions. He wanted God to give him answers.

However, instead of giving Job answers, God asked questions of his own.

Where were you when I made the earth’s foundation? Who shut the doors to keep the sea in when it broke through and was born? Where were you when I said to the sea, ‘you may come this far, but no farther’? Have you ever ordered the morning to begin, or shown the dawn where its place was? Tell me if you know all these things.

Job Was A Man Who Discovered God Is God And Job Was Not

Job discovered God owes no one any answers for what God permits or plans. He is God. We are not. As Job found out, man’s arm is too short to box with the Creator.

Job Was A Man Who Continued To Love God

Despite his trials, loss, and confusion, Job continued to love God. He continued to petition God for relief. He didn’t understand why God allowed the pain and suffering, but he never stopped loving his Creator. And in the end, God rewarded his faithfulness.

Your Turn

The story of Job is the story of a man who lived in the days of the old and ancient before Jesus walked this earth. It is the story of a man God allowed Satan to test to prove, not only to Satan, but also to Job, how faithful Job was to God.

This is the story of a man who sought answers to his why, yet never received them.

In the end, this is the story of a man who knew and held firmly to this truth. Our Redeemer lives, and in the end, he will stand once again on the earth. We will see God face to face.

Going through troubling times? Hold onto the hope we have in Jesus as our Lord, Savior, and Redeemer. We don’t have to have all the answers. We just have to trust that God does.

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I know that my Redeemer lives, and in the end he will stand upon the earth. Even after my skin has been destroyed in my flesh I will see God. I will see him myself; I will see him with my very own eyes. How my heart wants that to happen! Job 19:25-27 (NCV)

I wish you well.

Sandy

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Who Is Wise Among You?

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Photo by Andrés Dallimonti on Unsplash

Due to my growing interest in ancient Greek history, there was a time during my early teen years where I studied the words of several Greek philosophers. Socrates, (or So Crates if you’re a Bill and Ted fan) was at the top of my list. Perhaps that’s the reason I ask a lot of questions and ponder why.

To the people of the day, and for centuries to follow, the words of these philosophers were considered to be truly wise.

One quote by Heraclitus I discovered during my college Humanities class has stuck with me through the years.

No man ever steps in the same river twice, for it’s not the same river and he’s not the same man. Heraclitus

Life continues to flow, does it not? We can never snatch back yesterday.

Today we are surrounded by people who claim to be wise. To have all the answers. To be able to solve all our problems. During the time Job endured unimaginable trials – all his children killed, his home destroyed, his livestock and wealth taken from him, his health deteriorated to the point he cried out for death – his so-called friends counseled him with their self-proclaimed wisdom.

They said many things, but their wisdom was anything but wise.

In the Book of Job God tells Job, “To be wise, you must have reverence for the Lord. To understand, you must turn from evil.” God states wisdom is not to be found among mortals; no human knows its true value. God alone knows the way, knows the place where wisdom is found.

Socrates stated, “The unexamined life is not worth living [and] ethical virtue is the only thing that matters.”

Well, although I agree we must examine our lives daily to make sure we are following the path Jesus set before us, and I agree ethical virtue is important, I’d have to disagree with ethical virtue being the only thing that matters.

I believe an abiding faith in, reverence and love for, and obedience to the One True Living God needs to top our list of the things that matter most.

What do you think?

Were there any philosophers you enjoyed studying? Any philosophical quotes you’d care to share? Here’s another from Socrates. “Wisdom begins in wonder.” 

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Wisdom is not to be found among mortals; no one knows its true value. The depths of the oceans and seas say that wisdom is not found there. It cannot be bought with silver or gold. The finest gold and jewels cannot equal its value. It is worth more than gold, than a gold vase or finest glass.

The value of wisdom is more than coral or crystal or rubies. The finest topaz and the purest gold cannot compare with the value of wisdom.

Where, then, is the source of wisdom? Where can we learn to understand? No living creature can see it, not even a bird in flight. Even death and destruction admit they have heard only rumors.

God alone knows the way, knows the place where wisdom is found, because he sees the ends of the earth, sees everything under the sky.

When God gave the wind its power and determined the size of the sea, when God decided where the rain would fall, and the path that the thunderclouds travel; it was then he saw wisdom and tested its worth—He gave it his approval.

God said to us humans, “To be wise, you must have reverence for the Lord. To understand, you must turn from evil.” Job 28:13-28 (GNT)

You can find my April Inspire a Fire post here. Please stop by and read it.

I wish you well,

Sandy

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Learn to Trust the Writer of Our Story

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by Sandy Kirby Quandt

(This post was written prior to Hurricane Harvey descending on Texas this past week, yet it is so timely.)

A recent article by Laurie Polich Short in Christianity Today got me thinking about how we need to learn to trust the writer of our story. God.

In this article, Laurie discussed the importance of looking at our lives in a broad context outside ourselves. Using Queen Esther as an example, Laurie said, Esther stands at the same crossroads where all of us stand: to either see her life as her own, to do what she wants, or to see her life as part of God’s story, given to her to touch and affect other lives. 

 

In a discussion of Job, the author says although Job asked God for an explanation, God gave none. Instead God showed all that he was capable of, and Job learned what God wants most from us. To trust him.

The truth is, when we give up being the center of our story, we are better able to live it. For our story now stars someone other than ourselves. As supporting players, we can play our roles with the awareness that we are part of God’s bigger story, and accept our script as the one we are meant to live.

Perhaps it’s time to shift our focus from ourselves and how we view our life, trust God; the writer of our story, and see things from his perspective.

What do you think?

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I know that you can do all things and that no plan of yours can be ruined. You asked, ‘Who is this that made my purpose unclear by saying things that are not true?’ Surely I spoke of things I did not understand; I talked of things too wonderful for me to know. Job 42:2-3 (NCV)
 
 I wish you well.

Sandy

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Hurricane Harvey and Houston Texas

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by Sandy Kirby Quandt

If, like most people, you spent the greater part of this past week glued to your television or device for updates on the news regarding Hurricane Harvey and Houston, Texas; the rain event the weather service called an unprecedented catastrophic event with record-setting historical rain fall, perhaps your heart was grieved at the sight of people young and old rescued by boat, front loader, dump truck, and helicopter from the rising flood waters.

Pilot, Pie, and I live in the Houston area. We’ve been through Alison, Rita, Ike, and now Harvey since moving here from Florida in 2000.

Right now I’d like to thank each and every one of you who faithfully prayed for us, and the rest of the area, during this unprecedented catastrophic event. God was again faithful to hear and answer. Proving it is through placing our trust in him that fear is driven out.

 

You may have heard Houston Texans football player, JJ Watt, established a fundraiser to help with the recovery efforts. Here’s a link if you feel moved to contribute to help those who lost so much. The storm may be in our rearview mirror when you read this, but the recovery efforts will last far into the future.

I find it interesting that right before Harvey hit Texas, I’d been thinking about Job’s conversation with God. I wrote a post on that conversation before Harvey was a blip on the weather screen. I bumped it from today, and rescheduled it for September 7, 2017.

Near the end of the Book of Job God challenges the man who dared question him. These last five chapters may have been intended for Job, but are written for each of us as well.

In the midst of Job’s suffering he and his friends talked to each other a lot. But they didn’t talk with God very much. Did you ever notice that? It took the whole Book of Job before God answers Job from the whirlwind and asks, “Who is this that questions my wisdom with such ignorant words? Brace yourself like a man, because I have some questions for you, and you must answer them.” (Job 38:1-3)

In the midst of our personal suffering we may talk a lot to our family and friends, without spending much time talking with God about our situation.

I sent more texts to family and friends during the days of Hurricane Harvey than I have at any other time. (I am not a proficient texter as those who receive my texts can attest.) Sissy also served as a contact person dispensing updates on our situation.

Along with communicating with others, I stayed in constant communication with God. As Job showed us, that is key is it not?

Our lives and wellbeing are ultimately in the hands of an all-powerful, all-knowing Creator God who spoke the world into being, laid the foundations of the earth, told the sea it can only go THIS far, and controls the wind, rain and lightning.

Friends are good to bounce things off and listen to their counsel, but in the end it is better to spend more time listening to God than discussing the hows and whys of things that are beyond our comprehension and control, don’t you think?

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“Who shut up the sea with doors, when it rushed out from its secret place? I made clouds its clothing, and put much darkness around it. I marked the places where it could not pass, and set locks and doors. And I said, ‘You will come this far, and no farther. Here will your proud waves stop.” Job 38:8-11 (NLV)

I wish you well.

Sandy

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Who Can Challenge God?

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by Sandy Kirby Quandt

Who has ever challenged God successfully? Among the many who have tried the name that comes to my mind first is Job, the Old Testament patriarch who lost his children, fortune and health in a series of dramatic events one right after the other.

As children we question our parents. We question our teachers. As adults we question our supervisors and those in authority over us. We question our leaders. We question God.

Why did you allow this to happen?

Why didn’t you do something?

Why?

Why?

Why?

We act as if we are the creator of the universe. We act as if we are the ones in charge. The ones in control. When actually, we are anything but.

Job challenged God to give Job an explanation for what happened. God challenged Job to answer like a man, the questions God posed.

Where was Job when God created the world and put the stars in the heavens and planets in motion?

Where was Job when God created man?

Did the waves ask Job how far they should go before stopping on land?

Did the sun and moon ask Job when they should rise and set each day?

When Job realized the foolishness of questioning God’s reasons and actions he covered his mouth in silence, and repented in dust and ashes.

The next time something happens in our lives and we don’t understand it or can’t figure out the reason behind it, maybe we need to realize we live in a very fallen world. Sin abounds. Satan and his demons are alive and well.

And so is God.

God is the same yesterday, today and tomorrow. His love endures forever.

While we can go to God with a questioning heart, we’d best not approach him with a raised fist.

God does not owe us any explanation and we would be wise not to try and demand one.

We should never forget. He is God and we are not.

Jesus is our advocate who stands before God’s throne pleading our case. What say we leave our defense to him?

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If someone wanted to take God to court, would it be possible to answer him even once in a thousand times?  For God is so wise and so mighty. Who has ever challenged him successfully? Job 9:3-4 (NLT)

I wish you well.

Sandy

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