Issue 1395 – Thrown For a Loop – March 14, 2024

A ton of snorting, frothing fury busted out of  the chute at the rodeo. The raging bull was bucking and kicking from the get-go. The rider held on for dear life. He only had to stay on for eight seconds. The bull only had eight seconds to dislodge the rider.

There was no competition. As skilled as the cowboy was, he was head over heels in the air at about the four-second mark. The image stuck in the back of my mind for years, and I recently saw a photograph that captured a similar incident with the cowboy still in the air. (I don’t know who took the image; all credit belongs to the photographer)

As I looked at the photo, all I could think of was, “just like the bull did to the cowboy, sometimes life tosses us for a loop.” We can plan all we want and we can take all the precautions that are prudent. There are times when all the planning and precautions don’t make a whit of difference.

There are times when life hurts!

Job learned that. God permitted Satan to do his worst against Job.

Now there was a day when the sons of God came to present themselves before the Lord, and Satan also came among them. The Lord said to Satan, “From where have you come?” Satan answered the Lord and said, “From going to and fro on the earth, and from walking up and down on it.” And the Lord said to Satan, “Have you considered my servant Job, that there is none like him on the earth, a blameless and upright man, who fears God and turns away from evil?” Then Satan answered the Lord and said, “Does Job fear God for no reason? Have you not put a hedge around him and his house and all that he has, on every side? You have blessed the work of his hands, and his possessions have increased in the land. But stretch out your hand and touch all that he has, and he will curse you to your face.” And the Lord said to Satan, “Behold, all that he has is in your hand. Only against him do not stretch out your hand.” So Satan went out from the presence of the Lord.
Job 1:6-12 

Satan stole everything from Job. You can’t have much of a bigger loop thrown at you. What was his response?

Then Job arose and tore his robe and shaved his head and fell on the ground and worshiped. And he said, “Naked I came from my mother’s womb, and naked shall I return. The Lord gave, and the Lord has taken away; blessed be the name of the Lord.” In all this, Job did not sin or charge God with wrong. Job 1:20-22 

The last part of that verse is very revealing: Job did not sin by charging God with wrongdoing.

It’s okay not to be pleased with what God has done. Job wasn’t happy about what happened to him and his family. It’s common not to understand the why of what God has done. Even when we don’t understand or don’t like what is happening, the Bible tells us there is an appropriate response.

Rejoice always, pray continually, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.1 Thessalonians 5:16-18

We’re not called to like what has happened, but we can still take joy in knowing the Lord is in charge and knows what’s best. We can still be thankful for His presence in our lives and pray.

The cowboy was disappointed about not lasting the eight seconds. He wasn’t happy about ending up on his backside in the dirt, yet he knew it was all part of the ride.

The ride is rough. Life tosses us for a loop sometimes. God is always good.

Until next time, rejoice because God cares even when you’re upside down in the air and about to land on your backside in the dirt.

Be blessed

Hallelu Yah / Praise God 

Kevin

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Soli Deo Gloria (For the glory of God alone)

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Unless otherwise noted, all Scripture references are from the English Standard Version (ESV)