Job 11: 17-19a
Life will be brighter than noonday, and darkness will become like morning. You will be secure, because there is hope, you will look about you and take your rest in safety. You will lie down, with no one to make you afraid. NIV
Again, these verse follow on from Job 11: 13, which says, “If you will devote your heart to him and stretch out your hands to him …”
… life will be brighter … darkness won’t be as dark … you will be secure in you hope of the Lord … you will rest easily because you are not afraid … you’ll sleep peacefully, free from worry and fear.
Change, any change, isn’t easy. While some change is for the better and some for the worse, it can’t help but feel … different.
When things are different, it isn’t immediately obvious, in my experience, that they are better. Difference invites comparison, and comparison can kill optimism.
There is quite a bit of change in my little world at the moment. As near as I can tell, it is all for the good, but, I needed this reminder today.
Today, and all days, I will devote my heart to the Lord. I will stretch out my hands — full of things that I’m experiencing and thinking about — to Him.
Recently, I was talking with a set of new parents about the challenges of caring for their young son. They are thrilled with him, but, they cannot escape the obvious realities that he needs absolutely everything done for him. Their world — for this precious, precious time — revolves around meeting his most basic needs, moment by moment. It’s an exhausting task.
But, then, we thought about this question, “What is it like for him?” His every need is met as soon as he makes it known. He is warm and dry and cuddled and safe and cared for.
In our lives as children of God, we are the baby. As we grow in Christ, just like the child of my friends, we will be able to accomplish much. But, no matter how old we are or how mature we are, we are always, always God’s children.
If we will stretch out our hands to him … He is waiting to meet our needs.
That’s what I’ll think about today.
365 Days of Peace 
God must be so exhausted taking care of me! Even though I have made it through 1/2 century of life, there are many days that I feel like a fussy infant…crying, wondering someone will show up to clean up my mess, and exactly where and when will the baby food arrive. God may give me peas that I spit out because I really want peaches, but only He knows exactly what I need to flourish. Thanks for reminding me that God would never leave my needs unmet, forget the diapers or forget that I need to be safely cradled in love.