From God to Job to Us: A Creation Meditation

The other day I was talking to a pastor friend about where America is right now from the economy to political partisanship to the state of the Church. "I've never seen it this bad in my lifetime," my 57-year-old friend commented. "People are discouraged and hopeless. They need encouragement."

Can you think of a moment in your own life when people have been more discouraged than they are now? I run into people all the time who feel like God must be taking a break, like He floating around in heaven a million miles away while we're playing solo here on earth. Has there ever been a "Job moment" like we're experiencing today?

Job was like many people I know. He played by the rules, he was a loving husband and a good father. Most of all, He loved God and tried his best to live a righteous life. But through a series of supernatural events, Job fell on hard times. He lost everything--his house, his family, all his possessions. He went from infinitely hopeful to completely penniless. Before long, Job began feeling sorry for himself. After all, he didn't "do anything" to deserve what he was going through.

Through the book that bears his name, Job falls deeper and deeper into depression. He wallows in sorrow, and Job's friends' perspectives only exacerbate his wounds. When Job reaches the lowest low of his entire life, God breathes a surprising word of encouragement:

"Listen to this, O Job; stand still and consider the wondrous works of God." (Job 37:14)

It's a shocking response to Job's situation when you think about it. Job is suffering from a case of "poor me," and God tells him to stop and meditate on nature! It is a curious command that reveals a flaw in the human coping mechanism. In the midst of problems, we often mistakenly meditate on our misfortunes rather than celebrating God's goodness, faithfulness, and provision. It can be difficult to shift our focus without altering our surroundings.

We find in creation an encouraging testament about the Creator. When we shift our focus from our woes to God's world, we are reminded of the Creator's power and divinity (Romans 1:19-20). We are immersed in His glory and supernaturally encouraged (Psalm 19). We often think about revelation through creation in terms of revealing propositional knowledge, but we must ask ourselves if creation can also serve the purpose of ministering to us in difficulty. The book of Job says so.

Reflecting on Job 37:14, Zig Ziglar and Ike Reighard write,

Job had every reason, humanly speaking, to doubt God's goodness and power. His life had been turned upside down, and his friends blamed him for his problems. But into his pain God spoke. God said, in effect, "Hey, Job, pay attention. I know you're hurting, but your faith can be refreshed by looking at the wonders of all I've made." When our faith is shaken, we, too, can look at the awesome creation God has made, and our faith can be rekindled....

To notice God's power and delicate hand in creation, we have to "stand still" and look. If we're rushing around in a panic trying to fix everything, we'll be focused only on our problems. Even in the most difficult times in our lives, faith is built by stopping and looking at the wonder of God's power and grace in the expanse and intricacies of nature.

Like a priceless rock thrown into the pond of time, God's exhortation ripples through the story of Job and hits us all between the eyes. Perhaps our current difficulties provide us with a unique opportunity to reflect on the Creator's handiwork. Rather than look to the stock market, our financial protfolios, or the unemployment rate, we should learn to stand still, to retreat, to stop and ponder the works of God. Our Creator is brilliant, creative, powerful, faithful, and actively involved in the world around us. In creation meditation, we find a divine rememberance and unlikely encouragement unlike we've ever known.

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