I'm only a few chapters into but am already so encouraged and really excited to learn more from this book...and to learn from the amazing story of Job what it means to believe that God is good, whatever the circumstances of life, and to trust in his faithfulness even if "all the lights go out".
One bit stood out to me in the first chapter, where Derek Thomas is defining wisdom, according to the Bible. He says:
"Being wise, in Bible terms, is set against the backdrop of our relationship to God. Unless we 'know God' (through faith in Jesus Christ alone) and walk in his ways, we are fools. As Jesus said: 'And everyone who hears these words of mine and does not do them will be like a foolish man who built his house on the sand' (Matt. 7:26.)
Reverencing God is crucial. Depending upon him, walking humbly before him, worshipping him at every point of our lives is the way of wisdom. Wise people, the Bible insists, glorify God and enjoy him in all circumstances.
Even in Pain!
Even when life turns bitter!
Even when dreams are shattered!
Even when nightmares become reality!
Even when we secretly think that God is a 'cosmic sadist',
as C.S. Lewis once confessed."
Later he mentions again Job's reverence, and fear, of God. He said, "Job had a great God and he knew it! When we fear God, as a rendition of Psalm 34 by Isaac Watts puts it: 'we will have nothing else to fear'!"
I pray that God would teach me what means to fear him, to every moment be an awe of his greatness and his love. To remember how small I am, how short are my days and yet how full of grace he is towards me! How weak I am, yet how strong and steadfast is his love. And that my heart would worship him joyfully, whatever happens in this life, however dark things seem to be.
"If I say,'Surely the darkness shall cover me,
and the light about me be night,'
even the darkness is not dark to you;
the night is bright as the day,
for darkness is as light with you."
(Psalm 139:11-12)
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