chapter 4: back deck prayers through Job
And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose.
— Romans 8:28
After 33 years I shouldn't be surprised when God reminds me He is the great Orchestrator. He is so good. He is so capable.
This year has been a wild ride for sure. Having Maggie amidst the chaos of 2020 has really convicted me of my need to grow in discipline for reading God’s Word. This, coupled with the biographies of faithful women, has been such a delightful challenge as I pray for the woman Maggie will become and for the woman Maggie needs me to be. When Adam suggested we read Job this summer I agreed but, if I’m honest, I wasn’t super excited. But it’s been wonderful to read and wrestle with this story as I learn about the lives of women like Joan of Arc, Susanna Wesley, and Hannah More. Additionally, a fantastic resource has been the Family Worship Bible Guide. In fact, many of the prayers below were inspired by this resource.
o be totally honest, I don’t think I’ve ever let myself really wrestle with Job. This book is so rich in addressing our relationship with God and the problem of evil. In just a few chapters it addresses entering into the suffering of others and the importance of lamenting before God and God’s willingness for us come to Him with doubts, questions, and frustrations. It reminds us that it’s better to be a “mess” in our struggles than portraying false perfection and false faithfulness.
This morning I jotted down “prayers for Maggie” from chapters 1-7. Here are a few…
May you have friends that seek to minister to you in times of trial and grace when they don’t do it well (chapter 2). When you walk through trials, may the Lord build a bridge between your belief and your experience and may He deepen your trust of Him (chapter 3). May you know that God can handle your questions and your lamenting (chapter 4). May you be sensitive to God’s Word when it exposes your sin and may you submit to God quickly (chapter 5). May you always acknowledge the burdens of others and humbly enter in alongside them. May I never dismiss your worries or make you feel invalidated. And if (when) I do, may I be humble enough to ask your forgiveness (chapter 6). May we as a family go to God with our complaints, remembering that God has invited us to boldly approach His throne of grace (chapter 6 - also Hebrews 4:15, Psalm 73, 77, 78).
Lay your heart bare and raw before the Lord little girl. It took me too long to know this was ok … to be messy, to not have it together. God doesn’t want perfection - He wants YOU.
