The word “Almighty” in this passage from Job, is translated from the Hebrew word, Shaddai. While this word is most commonly translated as “God Almighty,” another possible meaning is “God of the Mountain.” I love this imagery of God’s mountain-top view of the world, our lives, and what is needed.
There has been some painful pruning in my life over the last year, especially in regards to my relationship with my parents. I’ve spent the last 32 years striving to make things grow in our relationship and have come to realize that the growth of new things, such as trust, kindness, safety, and mutual respect, are not mine alone to bear…much less to fabricate. Surrendering to His wise hands as they’ve unraveled my expectations, chipped away at my fear-based instincts, and uncovered my prideful attempts at fixing relationships, has felt incredibly painful at times. And yet, the resulting peace has been indescribable. His pruning sometimes feels like wounding, but I’m beginning to see the necessity (and even the beauty) of it in small, yet profound ways.
Hosea 6:1 is one of my favorite verses, and reminds me of today’s passage in Job. The context of Hosea’s story feels unimaginably painful, much like the story of Job. But what a reassurance it is that we serve a God who is able to relate to our weaknesses, temptations, and hurts (Hebrews 4:14-16). Reinhold Niebuhr’s Serenity Prayer says,
“…accepting hardships as the pathway to peace;
Taking as He did, this sinful world
as it is, not as I would have it;
Trusting that He will make all things right
if I surrender to His Will…” 6
How often I forget that Jesus’ “God of the Mountain” view, while choosing the confines of a human body, continues to be the ultimate picture of surrender. May we trust His will, His perfect perspective, His mountain-top view, and the pruning and healing that He lovingly provides. We can trust His story.
For reflection:
- What would it look like to accept our hardships as a pathway to peace?
- What is something you might be holding onto that you can trust God to make it right?
by Jamie Chapman
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