When we are dissatisfied with God’s plan for our lives, we may try to justify our sinful actions by condemning God. We argue that He’s too restrictive, that His ways are too difficult, that He requires too much, and so on. We want the easy way, the smooth path, and the blessings without the sacrifice.
When Scripture calls for forgiveness but we want to hold onto our anger, we justify our bitterness by claiming that God requires the impossible.
When Scripture calls for holiness but we want to flirt with immorality, we justify our sin by claiming that God expects too much.
When Scripture calls for a life of self-denial but we want to gorge our flesh, we justify our lust by claiming that God is too restrictive.
When Scripture calls for a life spent serving others but we want to live for ourselves, we justify our selfishness by claiming that God’s way is too difficult.
When Scripture calls us to count our trials as joy but we choose to give up, we justify our self-pity by claiming that God is uncaring.
When we, as women, struggle and chafe against God’s choice of our gender, when we resent His design for us and argue about or rebel against His distinctive purposes and role for us, then we are standing in judgment of Him.
And at such times God’s question can well be applied to us, “Will the faultfinder contend with the Almighty? Let him who reproves God answer it” (Job 40:1, NASB).
We can become so blinded by our own way of thinking that we deceive ourselves into believing that we know best how to run our lives.
Take Time to Reflect
Have you found yourself responding in some of the ways listed above? Is there any area where you may be justifying your disobedience and thereby condemning God? Read through God’s questions to Job in 40:1-14 and apply these to yourself. God sums it all up in verse 14 by stating that if Job can answer all of these questions in the affirmative, then by all means he should go ahead and move right into God’s position. How might this apply to your life?
Read Job’s response to God in Job 42:1-6. Personalize his response as appropriate, and express your heart to God.
True Woman Wyoming Prayer Focus
Pray for the many technical aspects of the conference, including audio and video components. Pray for Deb Magee as she prepares the overheads for all the music and speaking sessions.
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