Book of Job

There are several keys to maintaining balance and sanity when "in transition." That is assuming that you are already sane moving into this season of life. One key is a consistent schedule which includes the spiritual disciplines of prayer and the Word.

When I first started in ministry, I was turned on to a great Bible reading plan. Very simply, it is reading one chapter out of each major section of the Bible every day - History (Genesis - Esther), Poetry (Job - Song of Solomon), Prophets (Isaiah - Malachi), Gospels ( Matthew - Acts) and Epistles (Romans - Revelation). This plan gives you a balanced diet. Five chapters a day takes about 20 - 30 minutes a day, an hour if you stop to think about it. Thinking about it is a good idea, especially if you are in the joblessphere.

When I found out I was laid off, I had just finished Song of Solomon, which is a good book to read on vacation, but only if you are with your wife! Next up? Job. Now to the uninitiated the book of Job is not pronounced "jaahb" as in employment, but "joe-b" with a long o. It was a character's name, not a synonym for work in which all men find their identity.

I'll be honest. I never look forward to reading Job. I thought about skipping it this time and going straight to Psalms, but the irony of the title, Job, and my job situation were too interesting. I'm always afraid that if I read about it, it will happen. So when Job loses everything, suffers terribly, then, after Satan learns his lesson, he is finally delivered, has everything restored and everyone lives happily ever after.

Of course Job didn't know the back story. And neither do we - for our lives. And my imagination runs amok when out of work. All kinds of scenarios run through my mind when I read "Naked I came from my mother's womb, and naked I will depart. The Lord gave and the Lord has taken away; may the name of the Lord be praised." And I pray, "Please God, don't let that happen to me! We need clothes. Especially in Seattle."

CS Lewis wrote, "God speaks to us in our pleasure, but He shouts to us in our pain." God, please don't have to raise your voice. After reading about Job's disasters and 30 chapters of his friends' crazy advice, God finally speaks. I am always relieved when I finally reach Chapter 38, mainly because I am tired of Eliphaz, Zophar, Elihu and Bildad the Shuhite (who is evidently the shortest man in the Bible).

Amazingly, God answers no questions. He just asks questions like, "Where were you when I laid the earth's foundation? Tell me, if you understand. Who marked off its dimensions? Surely you know!" And "Have you journeyed to the springs of the sea or walked in the recesses of the deep? Have the gates of death been shown to you? Have you seen the gates of the shadow of death?"

Then Job says, "I know that you can do all things; no plan of yours can be thwarted...My ears had heard of you but now my eyes have seen you."

Ok God. I get it. You are in charge. You are sovereign. You know the beginning from the end. You know my back story, present story and future story. I guess maybe I can trust you to find me the next job. You did find me my last one. Just one thing - can you work on the salary?