The Job Syndrome Page 53

Scriptural Reverence: The Book of Job-Chapters 1-2

Wikipedia defines the word syndrome as “the collection of signs and symptoms that are observed in, and characteristic of a single condition. ”As a simple citizen of society and a fellow life-traveler I can say that I have the Job syndrome.  I have a collection of signs and symptoms that can be easily observed and are characteristically part of that single condition Job suffered called Calamity. 

When calamity arrives on my doorstep, I try to recognize the asset of self-admittance of my frailties but this philosophy isn’t well received!  Many on this plane walk in such a way as to avoid discussion of such things as “syndromes” and  personal calamity, and I get that!  If life’s troubles are not avoidable then they are certainly deniable.  Deny! Deny! Deny!  We present the façade that all is well and we do it so well that even our answer to the polite inquiry “How are you doing?” is automatically answered with a “Fine! How are you?” This compunction to remain neutral is one of the signs in the collection of symptoms that make up the Job Syndrome! 

Perhaps we don’t function this way with our friends.  Unfortunately, Job had a wife and friends who didn’t quite get him, support him or even trust him.  His friends decided to ask him what he may have done to anger God, Almighty.  That’s a fine Howdy do!  Job searched his heart and remained steadfast in faith to God.  Interestingly, Job’s plight with personal plagues began even though he “was blameless and upright; he feared God”.  (Job 1:1) I wonder what we would have done or what we would do if faced with a colossal calamity that is undeserved and beyond our control?  That is what we are looking at here!  

It is generally our main goal to tread far away from even just one of the calamities that Job suffered so we set out to juggle well and avoid it all.  We do not want to be distressed financially so we work hard.  We do not want the stress of social pressure so we stand back and sit alone! We do not want the distress of pain or death anywhere near us- so we play it safe.  We do not want to be hit with life’s circumstances or society's judgment calls, so we strive to cover all the bases in order to fit in, win approval, be neutral, socially acceptable or simply to save face! Hey, I can admit I do some or all of these things.  Like I said before, I don’t mind admitting my frailties.  I find admittance liberating!  (Perhaps not redemptive-but freeing!)

On the other hand, when we refuse to look in the mirror and face truth we become a prisoner to our own façade.  With this style of life-management we reserve no space for the distress of personal reflection or revelation.  Losing here is not an option. But, then this Job Syndrome creeps in, as if out of nowhere, and with its calamity destroys our façade.  There is no way around it; we’re down for the count and our failure and loss stand before us in seeming victory! 

I know first-hand that this type of loss comes, like a tidal wave, into the lives of those who run a tight ship; just as it does with those who don’t.  It’s as if the pain of this life tracks us down and slams the trap of reality in front of us that is inevitably unavoidable. This is, in fact, the truth of it!

Here is the spiritual truth of it:  Scripture says that the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for whom he can devour. (1 Peter 5:8)  That is a frighteningly simple explanation.  Evil prowls! That very same evil played a part in Job’s syndrome of calamity and loss.  God, himself, asked the fallen angel Satan “Have you considered my servant Job?’  (Job 1:8)  In great confidence God asked that question! God permitted Job to be tested and Job was forced to face many challenges and eventually lived up to God’s expectations despite all costs and received recompense.  Scripture tells us “The lord blessed the latter part of Job’s life more than the first.” (Job 42:12) May it be with us as well! 

God says:

“I am the beginning and the end!”
Revelation 22:13

God also says:

“You shall have no other gods before me.”
Exodus 20:3

When humanity tries to interject our will or way into any aspect of those two statements

 calamity ensues!  It’s that simple! 

Overview: We can trace the original calamity of loss back to Adam and Eve.   Their fatal decision became known, worldwide, as “Original Sin”.  To believe in the Biblical explanation that one choice can be that fatal is to be willing to simplify even the most in-depth issue down to godly obedience….and in that we find the genesis of the Calamity of Man.  

Song Recommendation:

All I need is You

By: Jesus Culture

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=voW1VfybF14

Broken Together-A Marital Lesson Page 52

With childhood dreams as evidence…and with the ups and downs of a 24-year marriage as an example  (that includes a divorce and a re-marriage) I write this page.  I feel that sharing this info as words of encouragement or perhaps to deliver a “revelation” is important because, in my experience, some things just aren’t talked about and I believe many people have the same, subconscious misconceptions that need to be outed!!!  With uncertainty as to whether these words should be shared…but with the deep conviction that everyone can and will relate…I’ll share this passage:

To seek fulfillment from another human seems normal but simply is not wise.  It’s not talked about much but lived out daily with much drama!!!  Here it is:  We all seem to inherently hold to the psychology that within marriage we should find a romantic haven, the better part of ourselves; our other half, or in the least, some deserved or even earned happiness from our beloved.  Living within my marriage, reflectively looking around and respectfully peering into the marriages around me I can say, without a doubt, that happiness is not the central premise of a marriage.  Happiness is hopefully a part of it, yes…but not the overall result of our marital unions. 

With many folks stepping into their 2^nd or 3^rd marriage I’d say that the dream of finding contentment or “wholeness” within a marital union is a misunderstood concept and an unrealistic goal of marriage.  Many folks have stepped out of Divorce Court with a devastating awakening to reality that marriage isn’t as easy as it looks and certainly isn’t an institution where in one finds their other half.  Blessings to those who have come to that realization; “Hold on tight” for those just coming to this realization and “Hello” to those who have not yet seen this coming! 

Even though years have past since my childhood dream of a perfect wedding and a happy-go-lucky marriage- life has proved those lost dreams to be a derivative of undisclosed information about how difficult marriage truly is.  I suppose most people just believe that “it goes without saying”.  With the divorce rate where it is I can confidently say  “it doesn’t”!!!  Even still, with romantic socialization burned into my brain, I subconsciously cling to the notion that I am supposed to find my life’s happiness and some sort of “deserved” or  “serendipitous” contentment from my spouse.  Why do I think that?   Why in the world would a person, just as scarred and broken as myself, have what I need to be content? This isn’t an insult to my husband…. just a repercussion of living in a sinful, cruel world.

This devastating awakening brings to vivid color a thing called “reality”.  What it truly is- is maturity.  When reality slaps our marriages around enough we have the opportunity to pause and see the truth that marriage is a union that purposely tames our selfishness, puts away our personal expectations, tucks away our tempestuousness,  and opens the door to long-suffering wherein one finds patience.  Then, after years of enduring, managing, hoping, wishing and (if divorce doesn’t happen 1^st) waiting, the doors that are usually slammed shut with marital discord will fling open with the power of maturity at hand, ready to set up house in our marriage.  

Seeking this said maturity, my husband and I worked through about a year of Christian Marriage Counseling and within that year we learned a thing or two.  The main thing this did was give us an hour every week or so to speak out-loud to each other and with mediation, find a way to hear what the other said.  It did not inherently change me or him…but it became a glue that was a welcomed balm and it opened our eyes to what we could change….and that was simply our self!  

Change is a stealth creature.  It lurks in quiet places and doesn’t reveal itself until much time has passed.  Even then, it’s not quite noticeable, for it has morphed ever-so-slowly into existence and barely into our consciousness.  Wouldn’t it be nice if change would present itself with all the hoopla of a ticker tape parade?  But, it just does not happen.  The habits of a lifetime and the stubbornness of humanity simply will not be that accommodating. 

When we allow marriage to smooth away our sharp edges it balances many things inside us.   Our outside demeanor takes on the countenance of what time brought:  we have found balance!  The word balance, in itself, recognizes that this is a work in progress.  For something to remain balanced it must sit just so- in it’s place.  There will be teetering and tottering…. but the maturity that time created will find a way to steady itself!   The household will have balance and so will those who live within it.  We will take balance with us to work, the kids will sense it and find contentment in the perseverance that we parents exhibit and balance will do its job!

 Just as the cake topper of man and wife sits nicely balanced on the top of the wedding cake….so it goes with the entire marriage.  We stand, shoulder-to-shoulder, facing the precarious on day one and this never changes!   Balance takes consistency and the statement “till death do we part” allows time to say “gotcha”.  With those  sacred words we agree to a lifetime on a Teeter Totter!  With the implications of that- we find that marriage isn’t a wedding or making it to next year’s anniversary…. it is a living institution that becomes a life-style that takes a lifetime and produces a legacy for the two that lived it and for those who watched--- as time etched and scratched, crept and crawled, and maneuvered itself in and through two people’s lives.

This is dedicated to my parents, Bob & Ruth Abrams-

 who just celebrated their 55th Wedding Anniversary!

Also, to my husband who has been on the Tetter-Totter with me for almost 25 years!
At times we lose our way- but then, through grace, we find each other again
 and regain balance...and peace!   

Song Recommendations:

Broken Together

By:  Casting Crowns

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RhxELo-uD3c

Beloved

By:  Jordan Feliz

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pgJFUW3VenY

Scripture Says.... Page 51

Scripture says:

“For the message of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing,
but to us who are being saved it is the power of God. 
For it is written:

“I will destroy the wisdom of the wise;

the intelligence of the intelligent I will frustrate.”

Where is the wise man?  Where is the scholar?
 Where is the philosopher of this age?
 Has not God made foolish the wisdom of the world?
 For since in the wisdom of God
 the world through its wisdom did not know him,
God was pleased through the foolishness of what was preached
to save those who believe.
 Jews demand miraculous signs and Greeks look for wisdom,
but we preach Christ crucified:  a stumbling block for Jews
 and foolishness to Gentiles, but to those whom God has called,
 both Jews and Greeks, Christ (is) the power of God and the wisdom of God.
 For the foolishness of God is wiser than man’s wisdom,
 and the weakness of God is stronger than man’s strength. “

1 Corinthians 1: 18-25

Scripture says:

“And we have the word of the prophets made more certain,
and you will do well to pay attention to it,
 as to a light shining in a dark place,
until the day dawns and the morning star rise in your hearts. 

Above all, you must understand that no prophecy of Scripture came about
 by the prophet’s own interpretation.
  For prophecy never had its origin in the will of man,
 but men spoke from God as they were carried along by the Holy Spirit. “
2 Peter 1: 19-20

Scripture says:

“No longer will there be any curse.  The throne of God and of the Lamb
will be in the city, and his servants will serve him. 
They will see his face and his name will be on their foreheads.
  There will be no more night.  They will not need the light of a lamp
or the light of the sun, for the Lord God will give them light.
 And they will reign forever and ever.

The angel said to me, “These words are trustworthy and true.
 The Lord, the God of the spirits of the prophets,
sent his angel to show his servants the things that must soon take place.”
Revelation 22: 3-6

Scripture says: 

“I, Jesus, have sent my angel to give you this testimony for the churches.
 I am the Root and the Offspring of David,
 and the bright Morning Star.”

“The Spirit and the bride, say, “Come!”
 And let him who hears say, ”Come!”
Whoever is thirsty, let him come;
and whoever wishes,
 let him take the free gift of the water of life.

Revelation 22: 16-17

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=An2zkNmK6Ns 

Song Recommendation:

Water

By:  Anthony Brown

Where Do I Find My Worth? Page 50

I will never have enough….and I will never be enough!  The world of advertising and psychology tries to sell us this propaganda EVERYDAY.  Truthfully, there is nothing in this world that will ever fulfill us.  There is nothing in this world that can soothe the ache inside- that we overlook more than we’d care to admit.  We can search in the highest of heights for personal fulfillment: such as fame, wealth, worldly achievement, personal accolades, beauty, the ultimate display of perfection-but that will never be enough. 

We can choose to go to the deepest depths and try to escape the reality that “we are unfulfilled”! In fact, humanity finds many fearful paths into dark places and goes to great lengths to ease the pain of worthlessness:  irresponsibility, moral corruption, sexual escapades, prostitution-of ANYTHING that makes us sacrifice our integrity for gain; drug and alcohol abuse to numb our minds, divorce that devastates our family life, the personal choice to divorce our own soul from our conscious mind so that we feel NOTHING!  Regrettably, once we reach this place the hellish Gates of Consequence are close by!

We can easily find ourselves in front of the Gates of Circumstance by falling prey to envy, jealousy, bitterness, self-pity, stubbornness or obstinance! We can be in the darkest of places and desperately dabble in all of depravity of man for one glaring reason; we don’t know our “worth”!!!  

Compassionately I ask:  Why in the world would we think our worth is found in any of our earthly pursuits?  Why would we think our worth is found on this planet at all!  If we’re insightful, in even the smallest of ways, we can sense- deep in our soul- the scriptural truth that “God has set eternity into the hearts of man”.  This scripture sums up why we have that inner ache for “something more” than we can find on earth!  Through this small yet profound scripture I finally realized that my life is destined for something beyond this world and that my worth is found there!

Like me, you can flounder for years seeking fulfillment in a person, place or thing.  We can waste our entire lives away if we “choose” to be that stubborn.  Thankfully God is patient and kind and He will stand in front of us with the very hope and answer we crave- but we must recognize our need and surrender our aching hearts to God -- who “rises to show us compassion”.  WE have to choose to give up the hunt because the Lord will not coerce.  He will not force us into spiritual “rehab”.  He will simply wait until we decide we’re ready!

Why does he wait like this-almost making it feel as if He is allowing us to go through this suffering? Too many people over-look the simple answer in order to blame God for things….but this same all-knowing God purposely created us with free-will.   If we didn’t have personal control over our own body, mind and our choices…we would basically be a prisoner to circumstance, a slave to God, a minion in this world.  With the amazing gift of free-will, that is unique to man, we have been given the ability to think freely, make personal choices and discern spiritual truths such as this one –but, ironically, we must use this exact free-will and chose to be cognizant of the spiritual side of life in order to appreciate the astounding gift!

Whether we’re sitting in our Ivory Tower looking down on the world, basking in the self-righteousness of our success…. OR whether we’re so close to the Gates of Hell we can smell the stench… that little ache of un-fulfillment is there.  For some of us it’s more prevalent than others.  Recognizing the empty ache for what it is and then turning our face and heart to God is all we need to do to find change….to find hope….to find worth!

We do not have to sacrifice our lives by living in-and-through the Emptiness of Worthlessness until death finally claims us! Our creator, God as already found a way to save us from the decay of this world and he did so in such a way that we could easily relate to it; using a fellow human being named Jesus.  His life-giving teachings and the story of his sacrifice to save us is written down and preserved on ancient documents that now compile the New Testament! Here is but one passage that points out what I am reiterating:

"The God who made the world and everything in it

 is the Lord of heaven and earth

 and does not live in temples built by hands. 

 And he is not served by human hands,

as if he needed anything,

because he himself gives all men life

and breath and everything else.

From one man he made every nation of men, 

that they should inhabit the whole earth;

 and he determined the time set for them 

and the exact places where they should live. 

 God did this so that men would seek him 

and perhaps reach out for him and find him, 

though he is not far from each one of us. 

 For in him we live and move and have our being."

Acts 17: 24-28

 This was written by Luke, who was a Gentile Physician, somewhere between A.D. 63-70.  That is a while back!  There are many ancient Jewish writings in the Old Testament that prophesied that there would be a messiah sent to save the world. The New Testament writings bring the Old Testament prophesies to fruition. The fact that we actually have hard copies of ancient documents and can verify the writings of the Old and New Testament seems, in a way, mind-blowing.  Do you think that it’s accidental that we have ancient writings that show us that there is a spiritual dimension to our lives-and that humanity’s fate, it’s beginning and it’s end, is etched in these writings and within time itself?  Indeed!  

We can study and research Christianity in great detail to find out that spiritual victory over this world and eternal salvation are the ultimate gifts destined for each of us-but with our free-will we must chose to believe it.  With a believing heart we must simply pray: “Open my eyes so that I may see” it!

Yes, Jesus’ death is symbolic.  Literally, it is fulfillment of Old Testament prophesy. Analytically it is an event that seems other-worldly….and spiritually, it is exactly that!  Because of God’s Word we find that anything is possible and nothing is hopeless…..we have already been saved…..we just need to confess it!!!  Here is just one scripture from the New Testament that describes the amazing power of the VICTORY we have:

“No, in all these things we are more than conquerors
 through him who loved us. 
For I am convinced that neither death nor life,
neither angels nor demons,
neither the present nor the future, nor any powers,
 neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation,
 will be able to separate us from the love of God
 that is in Christ Jesus our lord.”

Romans 8:38

This scripture covers everything in creation-including the present and the future! For those of you still living with that ache inside…. Here’s the summation of truth:  Neither the riches and glory found on the highest heights nor the moral despair found in the deepest depths will fill that part inside you that was meant to belong to God.  Nothing you can do will separate you from this fact!  It is an unchangeable truth!  Your inner ache for worth will painfully persist until you chose to rise up a conqueror and find the healing power of God! 

My love, here is my sincere prayer for you:

“For this reason I bow my knee before the Father,
 from whom every family in heaven and on earth is named,
 that according to the riches of his glory he may grant you
to be strengthened with power through his Spirit
 in your inner being,
 so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith-
that you, being rooted and grounded in love,
 may have strength to comprehend with all the saints
 what is the breadth and length and height and depth,
 and to know the love of Christ that surpasses knowledge,
 that you may be filled with all the fullness of God.”

Ephesians 3: 14-19

Song Recommendation:

Worth
by:  Anthony Brown

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iX59fjowutw 

A DEEPER LOOK:

Scriptural Explanation of Humanity’s Plight-

Ephesians 2: 1-5

“As for you, you were dead in your transgressions and sins,

 in which you used to live when you followed the ways of this world

and of the ruler of the kingdom of the air, 

the spirit who is now at work in those who are disobedient.

  All of us also lived among them at one time, 

gratifying the cravings of our sinful nature

 and following it’s desires and thoughts.  

Like the rest, we were by nature objects of wrath (madness). 

But because of his great love for us,

 God, who is rich in mercy, made us alive with Christ 

even when we were dead in transgressions—

it is by grace you have been saved.”

Scripture that shows us that there is an all-knowing God
 who is always near us…

“Where can I go from your Spirit?
Where can I flee from your presence?
If I go up to the heavens, you are there;

If I make my bed in the depths, you are there!
Psalm 139: 7-8

…and scripture that shows us that the Lord
 is compassionate & concerned about us:

“The Lord longs to be gracious to you.
 He rises to show you compassion.
 The Lord is a god of justice.
  Blessed are those who wait on him.”

Isaiah 30:18

Last question:

How do we get to know an ancient, invisible God???

By knowing scripture!

GET TO IT!!!