Be loosened.

"Because God has loosened my bowstring and humbled me, they have cast off restraint in my presence."

(Job 30:11)

Sometimes life is hard. Very hard. We often get into a routine... a groove... a rhythm. Life moves along somewhat "swimmingly." And then all of the sudden, BOOM! The proverbial you-know-what hits the fan, and we're thrown for a loop. It happens to all of us... even those who live well. Like Job.

Job is one of the oldest books in the Bible. It's an ancient epic tale about a righteous and faithful man who has a series of disasters befall him - for no reason of his own. His so-called "friends" try to help him, by figuring out what SIN he has committed to warrant such ill treatment from life (God). But he knows he's blameless (at least form his own actions).

It's an interesting book. But also frustrating. We, as the readers, know that Job hasn't done anything wrong. And we writhe at the friends' "good advice," which uses the conventional wisdom of the time re: bad luck, evil, and sin. But we also notice something different. We begin to see the pride that Job has in his own righteousness. Self-confidence, self-assurance, and knowing who you are is important, of course. But we see as the book progresses that Job seems to be a little bit too prideful in his own goodness. At the end, when God answers Job face-to-face, he realizes there are just some things that he'll never know.

God is God. Job is not.

So here in chapter 30, Job makes an interesting observation: "God has loosened my bowstring and humbled me." In archery, one must have a tight bow in order to shoot arrows accurately. You loosen your bowstring when it's time to pack up and go home. Job felt like he'd gotten to a point in life where his bowstring became slack. He couldn't do what he needed to do. And when that happens, it's time to close shop and go home. He wasn't giving up on life, of course. But it caused him to be more humble. To recognize that maybe all of his life isn't within his own control (or dependent upon his goodness - or lack thereof).

We all have those times in life. I'm not one who believes "everything happens for a reason." I think we face the consequences of our actions (and the actions of others). And sometimes that's NOT what God intends for us. But I firmly believe that God can use ALL THINGS for good in our lives! So the next time we find our bowstrings of life "loosened," may we use that as a time to fall upon God (and God's mercy!). May we trust less in ourselves... and more in God. May we use it as a lesson in humility, and an opportunity to strengthen our faith in the One who loves us beyond measure.

Be loosened.