I posted in this blog in May: Job Experience. Mostly, I was pleased with how that post came across, but there was a nagging part of me that felt like it was unfinished. Something along the lines of - the book of Job is in the Old Testament. Didn't Jesus come to be one of us to kind of, well, deal with all that Old Testament stuff? We are living under the new covenant right? So even though He used to let the enemy harass His people, does He really still permit that? And does the enemy really have to ask permission to harangue us?
In that post, I felt like I was on to something, but didn't quite have all the pieces. And yet, He is the same yesterday, today and tomorrow, so...chances are...
And then I got kind of perturbed. Gee, thanks a lot God, I really appreciate the fact that You just hand out permission slips to the enemy of my soul to torment when he has nothing better to do. I mean, I want you to brag about me and everything, but seriously?
And then, as He quite often does, He gave me the answer to my question while I was trying to figure out how to not appear completely ignorant in front of my children, "I guess, when the devil is allowed to bug us and we don't really fall for it, it is kind of like a kick in his teeth. God can go, "Ha, ha devil, nice try, score one for my team.""
But I was still wondering, does He really still do that? And then, sitting in church one Sunday, along came the answer:
Luke 22:31-32 (NLT)
31 “Simon, Simon, Satan has asked to sift each of you like wheat. 32 But
I have pleaded in prayer for you, Simon, that your faith should not
fail. So when you have repented and turned to me again, strengthen your
brothers.”
The Job connection. The book of Luke is most definitely part of the New Testament, and since this is Jesus speaking, I'm going to say it holds a lot of weight.
And the best treasure in these few sentences? Even though He gave permission for the sifting to occur, He was praying for Simon the entire time it was happening. Devil doesn't stand much chance against that. The only way he'll win is if the siftee makes the wrong choices.
A friend lent me a book. New Day, New You by Joyce Meyers. It has a reading for each day of the year. Here is part of today's - What to Do When Trouble Comes - "The greatest time in the world to keep your commitments to God is in the midst of difficulty and adversity. When the devil sees that trials and tribulations won't stop you, he will stop troubling you for a while. To be prepared for the next time you find yourself in a difficult situation, practice saying, "I am going to be faithful to God, and God is going to give me double for my trouble. Satan, you thought you were going to hurt me, but I am going to get a double blessing, because I am one who diligently seeks the Lord.""
I like it that no where does it say we have to agree with the way we are sifted or even pretend to agree with it. We can be cheesed right off about the whole thing. It won't make the sifting stop or even make the manner of sifting more comfortable. And it apparently won't make it the last time we get sifted. The asker will ask again and the Permitter will give permission again. But if the devil is taking one to the teeth, somehow that makes it seem worth it.
It is good to get mad at being tested, just figure out the best place to direct the anger.
It almost gives a bit of a thrill, doesn't it? To know that God trusts enough, Jesus is interceding and that if we make the right choices, the enemy is going to fail, at our hands. It makes me think of my favorite scene from Lord of the Rings (Two Towers):
Aragorn: You have some skill with a blade.
Eowyn: The women of this country learned long ago, those without swords can still die upon them. I fear neither death nor pain.
Aragorn: What do you fear, my lady?
Eowyn: A cage. To stay behind bars until use and old age accept them and all chance of valor has gone beyond recall or desire.
Aragorn: You are a daughter of kings, a shield maiden of Rohan. I do not think that will be your fate.
So what has discovering the Job connection done for me? It has shown me what I fear.
What do I fear? I fear that I will stop getting harassed, that the enemy will stop asking to take shots. I will settle for the easy life until what I am truly fighting for has slipped out of my vision, beyond recall or desire.
That just wouldn't be cool. That would be a most tragic fate.
