SCRIPTURE: And when the days of the feast had run their course, Job would send and consecrate them, and he would rise early in the morning and offer burnt offerings …For Job said, “It may be that my children have sinned, and cursed God in their hearts.” Thus Job did continually. Job 1:5 ESV
THOUGHT: I still don’t know where I got the idea that the Christian life was going to be easy. After all, Jesus said, “In this world you will have trouble” (John 16:33). And yet, Christians can feel discouraged, even betrayed, when things don’t go well after they’ve loved the Lord and entrusted their lives to him. This can be especially true when the grown-up children in my life struggle. I do feel a little betrayed, and very out of control.
Job is probably the best biblical example of someone who lived righteously but still suffered mind-blowing tragedy. I often look to him for encouragement as I walk this broken road. When his story opens, we learn he loves to celebrate with his ten grown children. Afterwards, Job has a habit, a routine, a best-practices parenting procedure: he continually sends them home by blessing and naming them God’s, and rises early the next day to sacrifice on their behalf just in case they have sinned. What a great example of parenting!
As Job’s story illustrates, life is not easy, even with God as our friend. But his example of blessing, naming, and intercessory prayer on behalf of our children is something we can all practice.
PRAYER: Oh God, I trust you as I bless, name as set apart for you, and ask forgiveness on behalf of my children.
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Blogger Amy Clemens is the author of Walking When You’d Rather Fly: Meditations on Faith After the Fall. In it she explores childhood sexual abuse and how it impacted her faith (or lack thereof) for four decades. You’ll find not only her story, but better yet, the Big Story of God.
Check out Walking When You’d Rather Fly, and learn more about the book and Amy’s other ministries. You will also find her devotional work at Words of Hope.
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