Today’s devotional was written by Alan Amavisca, the Director of the North County Project. You can subscribe to his email devotionals or find out more about him and his organization at northcountyproject.org.
“The words of Job are ended.”
Have you ever run out of words in the course of praying? Have you ever poured out your heart so fully and desperately in your hope of a divine word or a touch that nothing remained to be said?
Consider the source of Job's own dilemma: bereft of wealth gathered over a lifetime, robbed of his children, stripped of respect, he asked, "Why?" God did not answer.
Job's wife had a suggestion: "Curse God and die." His associates had a response: mockery and scorn. His friends had a conclusion: "You must have led an evil, duplicitous life and God has exposed you at last, you hypocrite!" God said nothing.
Job weeps. He laments. He protests, questions and argues. He lays out his defense while his self-righteous friends alternately pontificate and deride him. Yet no word from God. In desperation, he sighs, "Fine. If I have done evil, then curse me." Then he shuts up.
What is left when our words run out and God still remains silent? Where can we go? What can we do?
Job offers us an example: we wait. In silence. And in faith that God will show up. Job knew he was not talking to a wall or to the cold emptiness of space. He felt unfairly treated and unjustly ignored but he never doubted God's presence. In fact, it is precisely his confidence in God which fuels his protest. So when his words are spent he does not turn away in disgust, he sits at God's doorstep in silence and waits.
Job teaches me two lessons about my prayer life: I do not wrestle fiercely enough in prayer and I do not listen enough when I have exhausted my words.
How would my prayer life change if I prayed with Job's tenacity for that which burdens me, and also committed to listen when words fail?
-Alan Amavisca
Director of the North County Project