I love the word daunting. It has an edge of something new going to happen, that is filled with fear and anxiety. It is a word characterizing intimidation. It is a descriptive word that creates a great picture.
Over the last month, posts have not prevelant on this blog because I have succumbed to some daunting moments. No, its not my new marriage :) I have been writing papers for the next step in the United Methodist process of being ordained, and for me, scholarly paper writing defines daunting. Often, through these moments, I have felt and experienced moments of great anxiety. The up and coming interviews about these papers have not been easy to swallow, especially since I am not a naturally proficient academic writer. Sure, I can jabber on for a bit with some prose, but when it comes down to using large words, formatted correctly to explain the depth and character of all that God is, I miss the mark pretty quickly.
Often, we all have to face such circumstances. Whether it is facing a fear, working through a job issue that is quite difficult or just going through some hard moments in our personal lives, daunting moments come. Over the last two weeks in my community, we have been reflecting on the book of Job. This book challenges us with great theological insight on the character of suffering, and many times it smacks us across the face with the reality of our pain and struggles. Job lives in daunting moments, for his pain was so real and vivid.
Job walks a difficult journey, and we see ourselves in this story so easily. If you have lived any life at all, you have gone through some hard moments. I know that I sure have. Our reactions to these moments are diverse, as they should be, yet through this book, we learn a lot about God. Maybe one of the best attributes to this scripture is discovering our place in relation to God. The daunting moments we face in our own lives create within us certain images and perspectives on God. We often put God in a box. Yet, through this captivating story, Job teaches us where God really sits in relation to us.
So, when daunting moments come your way, and you are fretting, struggling or just wondering how God fits into the story, or, if you are just curious, take a look at Job. I imagine it won't be as daunting as you think it might be.
As for my papers...they are done! Now it is just off to some daunting interviews :)
Grace and Peace!
Micah
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Doesn't it seem that those daunting moments are the times when we really lose focus on what God is all about. It seems that after we get through them it is easier to see that he was there all along and what a lesson we learn from those moments! Daunting tasks and life circumstances are what help shape our character, self concept, and attitudes.
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