• Home
  • Demos
  • _Demo #2
  • Faith
  • Reflections
Faithfully Marie
  • Devotions
  • Simple Living
Devotions

Why do You Believe That

July 15, 2020


"God  understands the way to it, and he knows its place" Job 28:23 


Hey Love, 

I recently read the book of Job for the first time from beginning to end. Let me tell you, I have some thoughts. This is a story I've heard preached often. Typically in the context that we may not understand why certain things happen to good people. Having now read the book for myself I agree with those summaries. But there is a nuance to Job's story that I haven't seen explored. Why do we believe what we believe?   

The story of Job begins with a character and wealth analysis of Job, a man in the land if Uz who was blameless, respected God, and had great riches. Then one day Job's life takes a turn and he loses nearly everything; his children, health, and wealth. Three friends come to visit him; "they sat with him on the ground seven days and seven nights, and no one spoke a word, for they saw that his suffering was very great." After this grace period, Job speaks; and laments his life, wishing he was never born. Then his friends Bildad, Eliphaz, and Zophar speak; for about 40 chapters these men discuss why bad things are happening to Job; there are accusations, disbelief, and hope.  

In the end, God meets up with Job and answers Job and questions him as well. The Lord does not reveal why these things were happening to Job or that He had given Satan the go-ahead to test Job's fidelity to God. Instead, God shows Job the things he cannot begin to grasp. 

Job and his friends reconciled their difference and his fortunes and life are restored, better than it was before.  

What I find fascinating about this story is not the usual, why would God do that, which is a question I don't think anyone can fully ever answer. Instead, I don't think Job's friends were malicious or ill-intended. They sat and mourned with him before ever speaking. They had  7 days to reflect on what happened to Job. Their conclusion, like what many of us who've grown in church have been taught, is: if something bad happens to you it's because you've done something bad. This is a commonly held secular belief as well; karma.  

My whole life, Job's friends have been vilified. Even at the end of the book, God says to Job's friends, "my anger burns against you…for you have not spoken of me what is right". I believe we must continuously examine our thoughts and actions. We may believe, without conscious thought, that what we're doing and saying is in fact true and right. There are endless examples in our current world, our current politics, as to the dangers of this thinking; the danger of not questioning what you believe.  

I believe we must always examine our beliefs. I don't know why God would condemn Job's friends when they were only trying to help; it was evident that their form of help was to accuse Job of having sin greatly. But I question the Old Testament "my anger burns against you" God. But that's for a different blog post. For now, I want you to take a moment and think of a point of view you believe in; it can be about sports, faith, politics, anything really. Why do you believe that?  

Faithfully, 

Marie 
Read more »
Monthly Reflection

Mid-Year Review and July Manifesto

July 1, 2020



Hey Love, 

Welcome to July. I know. What a year. This past weekend I set aside some time to review the past 6 months and to plan for the remainder of 2020. With COVID-19 in full force and racial uprisings across the globe, 2020 has a lot to review and reflect on. So I went to my favorite place, the beach, and sat under the palm trees and reflected. I'm sharing the journal setup I used and some  other tools to help you as well.  

Read more »
Previous page Next page
Subscribe to: Posts (Atom)

About Me

About Me
Hey Love. Welcome to my blog!

Popular Posts

  • Shop With Me: The Shopping Bag
  • 2016 Planners for Intentional Living
  • Best Podcasts for the Modern Woman
  • Summer 2015 Reading List
  • Living in Washington, DC: A Political Perspective

Newsletter

Receive all posts on your email.

Shop My Favorites

Archives

  • August 2021 (3)
  • July 2021 (5)
  • January 2021 (3)
  • December 2020 (2)
  • November 2020 (2)
  • October 2020 (3)
  • September 2020 (5)
  • August 2020 (4)
  • July 2020 (2)
  • June 2020 (4)
  • May 2020 (1)
  • April 2020 (6)
  • March 2020 (4)
  • February 2020 (4)
  • January 2020 (5)
  • December 2019 (1)
  • October 2019 (2)
  • August 2019 (1)
  • September 2018 (1)
  • August 2018 (4)
  • July 2018 (1)
  • April 2018 (1)
  • March 2018 (1)
  • February 2018 (4)
  • January 2018 (13)
  • December 2017 (2)
  • September 2017 (1)
  • July 2017 (1)
  • February 2016 (6)
  • January 2016 (5)
  • November 2015 (1)
  • October 2015 (4)
  • September 2015 (10)
  • August 2015 (13)
  • July 2015 (14)
  • June 2015 (3)
  • May 2015 (3)
  • April 2015 (22)
  • March 2015 (11)
  • February 2015 (9)
  • January 2015 (2)
  • December 2014 (3)
  • November 2014 (14)
  • October 2014 (6)

Duis urna odio, ultricies pellentesque fermentum egestas, gravida ac odio. In eget faucibus felis, vel porta nisi. Aliquam condimentum felis sed.

Newsletter

Receive all posts on your email.

© Faithfully Marie • Theme by MG Studio