Job 33:29: “Behold, God works all these things, Twice, in fact, three times with a man, 30 To bring back his soul from the Pit, that he may be enlightened with the light of life."
On my ExhalewithCookie Facebook page, I asked the group, "How has your faith deepened in areas where God's long-game investment is in play?" It can appear a bit disrespectful to call it that, so I will explain what I mean. There are areas of our lives where God allows the wind and rain to remain. He hasn’t calmed the storm or eased the ache in our soul over something that has been a constant reminder that life brings pain. This area brings a choice to remain on the vine; some have chosen hostility toward God and His Sovereign rule. It is God’s long-game investment in His children. It is where He allows our character to be developed under pressure, with what seems like little to mitigate any emotional relief.
The words in Job 33:29-30 are spoken by Elihu, the 4th of Job’s friends, in addressing why Job was suffering. Elihu's point concerns those who may need to be rescued from their sin. He addresses how God may use trials to “bring back his soul from the pit, that he may be enlightened with the light of life.” These are a magnanimous description of the beauty of God’s discipline. However, there is also this reality in our lives, even when there is no persistent sin we need to be rescued from.
The fact that “God works all these things (trials, hardships, difficulties), twice, three times with a man” is to say that God may allow a constancy of one or more trials to come or linger so that our loyalty to The “Light of Life” may be revealed. His long-game investment has never been our comfort but consistency in our walk with Him. His long-game investment is not for our promotion on earth but for our pushing through as faithful Kingdom citizens. Will we bear up under when He allows prolonged emotional and physical agony? I can only imagine Job’s desire for a pause in the pain.
I shared with the group how desperately I desired for, my husband and, my daughters to walk with the Lord. I remind God in prayer of the Word that is hidden in their hearts. I ask Him to put thoughts of His deliverance of our family during our financial hardships in their minds. I ask Him to place the conversations where biblical answers were offered for everyday problems. In their late teens to early twenties, each chose to love the world system and answers to life over the hope of all they knew and experienced in The Lord. For those thinking, “Well, there must have been a problem in the home,” it is easy to think parents are responsible for children walking away from the Lord. Those are accusations Job’s friends would offer, too. I am not unfamiliar with that kind of blame. When my children were leading bible studies, offering salvation to friends who still walk with the Lord, and answering difficult questions other Christians were asking. In my pride and ignorance, I thought I’d achieved a win. In my heart and a few times with my words, I readily blamed parents for not doing enough or thinking they must have lived hypocritically when their children walked away. I get it! Remember, we make decisions considering everything we have seen, heard, and experienced. I digress!
This area concerning my children is where the greatest long-game investment of waiting on God to answer my prayers lands. I have also rested on the possibility that they may not come back. Folks like to offer that hope to me, but while fully trusting God, I don't rest on what I want; I rest on His Will to be done. Understand, I believe this is His will. 2 Peter 3:9. My daughters live with all the good they know about God, our Lord Jesus, and the power of His might. The experiences of His working in our lives rest deep within them. In this long game that requires prayer, resting, and trusting, I will wait, not just for an answer in the affirmative but in the peace that surpasses all understanding, for whatever the outcome. His ways are good! He only gives good gifts to His children. That's the hope I hold.
Job had no idea what was happening or how long it would last. His agony was profound. His wife and friends were of little help. That added to his pain. While they were cagey in their timing to speak, we all know they should have stayed silent when they finally did. They were captious concerning Job’s plights, where they should have shown compassion. During God’s long game investment, people want to offer answers to why your wait for deliverance seems delayed. Sometimes, their good intentions hurt us more than they help. That may be part of God’s development of our character. That would not be unfamiliar to our High Priest, who sympathizes with our weaknesses (pains), Hebrew 4:15.
Suppose you have an area, or perhaps more than one, where you are living through God’s long-game investment of character development. Here's what you do. Keep your eyes fixed on Jesus, the Author and Perfector of your faith. Recognize that God’s Spirit is walking you through each area. God cares about what you face. He has already declared your faithfulness towards Him, just as He did with Job (Job 1:1,8; 2:2). He’s put all His trust in you and me for the win. He’s in the "Long Game Investment" with us. His character is on the line, too. We are His representatives to those around us. He is as invested in you and me in this long game as He was with Job.
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