It's ironic, really...

(Sorry for writing twice in one night...)

In our church's year-long Bible reading plan, we just finished Genesis. We're reading in somewhat of a chronological order, so we're actually not jumping into Exodus next.

We're studying Job.

This is just a little bit scary to me because in the summer of 2005, I was full of self-pity one Sunday night, so I climbed up on my bunk bed at camp and decided to read Job before I went to sleep. Then a friend needed me to climb down and help her, and my climb down quickly turned into a fall and I shattered my arm.

I was reading Job and asking God why He was allowing me to suffer - and let me tell you... I wasn't suffering.

So what about now? Is this really suffering? Or is it just pouting?

I wish I could copy and paste from the commentary/reading guide that we're using, but we've been told that we're not allowed to share or reproduce it, so I'll paraphrase. I hope that's okay.

He compared Job's suffering with that of Joseph and highlighted the fact that Joseph's suffering served a very specific purpose. On the contrary, a reason was never really given for Job's trials. He said it helps us to think about times in our lives when it's just suffering for the sake of suffering... When our suffering seems meaningless. Then he encourages those who are suffering to pray and to commit to trust the Lord through it all, and he tells those who aren't suffering at this time to pray for someone who is.

Sometimes I feel like my mom is a bit prophetic. As I prepared to come down here, she told me repeatedly that it would be hard, but she compared it to my high school experience and other things over the course of my life and said she had no doubt that I could stick it out. I'm pretty sure that we all thought she meant it would be hard to be away from home and family or that it would be hard to be in another country. (Those things are true but aren't the worst...) I never even considered that my teaching experience would become such a trial.

It's funny though. I remember having teachers at Locust Fork who, when we would complain about a headache or a sore throat or something, would offer to stomp our toes to make us forget about the other pain.

This is becoming a bit like that. Three weeks ago, I was sad that I wasn't in Alabama. Today - I'm content in that area. But maybe it's just because my class spent the day stomping on my toes... :)

It's only 8:10 - and I'm going to bed. I'll try again tomorrow.

His mercies are new every morning, right? Right.