It’s Not Personal

Floridians are no strangers to the aftermath of a storm. Having spent a significant portion of my adult life living at the beach, I watched hurricanes come and go. No matter how many storms I witnessed, I never got used to the sights when the wind and rain died down. After each storm, neighbors crept from the shelter of their homes into the streets to assess the damage. Eyes gazed on battered neighborhoods, beachfronts covered in debris, and broken trees scattering the roadways. Even when nobody was hurt, it’s still disheartening to watch the waves crash up against the remains of homes half-washed into the ocean.

During prayer yesterday, the Lord led me to the story of Job. I couldn’t help but think about what the aftermath of Job’s storm looked like to those around him. Satan ravished his family, home, reputation, and his health. Like the half-beaten homes dangling off the edge of the dunes, the waves continued to crash and tear pieces off what was left of Job’s life. His friends doubted God’s favor on him, and Job wished he was never born. The whole story is just ugly until God finally shines a light on it. Job 38 starts with the words, “Then the Lord answered Job out of the whirlwind. Who is this that darkeneth counsel by words without knowledge. Gird up thy loins like a man; for I will demand of thee, and answer thou me.”

God says, “ENOUGH!” and then goes on to awaken Job to the fact that it’s not about him. As I read the words God spoke to Job, I couldn’t help but laugh a little at the tongue lashing. Excuse me sir, since you know so much, where were you when I created the earth? Who decided on how big it was going to be? How was the foundation poured? What do you know about death? Where do light and darkness come from? Was it you who taught hawks to fly? Can you imagine the look on Job’s face? I know how mine would have looked. God goes on driving the point home that it wasn’t about Job, and he needed to stop taking it so personally. God convicted me over my chuckling; this lecture is for all of us.

Sometimes in the storms, we get so wrapped up in how it interrupts our comfort or selfish ambitions that we forget why and how the storm got there in the first place. The storm wasn’t about Job. Satan was needing to be proved wrong, and Job was the guy to do the job. It wasn’t a personal attack on Job; It was about proving God right. God trusted Job to stand strong. He knew what Job was capable of and didn’t send anything bigger than what Job could handle. “…God is faithful, who will not suffer you to be tempted above that ye are able; but will with the temptation also make a way to escape, that ye may be able to bear it.” 1 Cor 10:13.

If we remain faithful to the Lord, He will use us to prove Him right. The Almighty, Creator of this world, Redeemer of souls uses me and you to prove Him right. Just stop for one minute and think about that statement. As we stand in the storm, dripping wet, covered in the debris of this world, determined to give God every ounce of glory for the storm, we are proving Him right because He told the enemy we would stand. He has faith in us to stand.

When the storm finishes raging, our friends, coworkers, and neighbors peer out from behind their place of shelter. They will see broken trees and scattered branches, but, among the wreckage, they will see the warriors God knew would stand and prove Him right. They will see God’s promise of protection and provision proved. They will see a strength and power only available to us by God’s Spirit. They will see the fruit of the Spirit in a way only a storm produces. They will see it wasn’t about us, but about God proved right.

Jesus, give me opportunities to prove You right. Give me the faith that I need to push away selfishness during a storm and stand in faith. Use me to prove who You are to the lost. In Jesus’ Name.