Living Connected: An Introvert's Guide to Friendship by Afton Rorvik

Author:Afton Rorvik [Rorvik, Afton]
Language: eng
Format: azw3
Publisher: New Hope Publishers
Published: 2021-10-05T00:00:00+00:00

God’s Loyalty Motivates

In my reading of the Book of Job, I couldn’t help but notice Job’s verbal wrestling match with God. At first, in the midst of layer upon layer of loss and grief, Job refused to curse God, even when his wife said to him, “‘Are you still trying to maintain your integrity? Curse God and die.’ But Job replied, ‘You talk like a foolish woman. Should we accept only good things from the hand of God and never anything bad?’ So in all, this Job said nothing wrong” (Job 2:9–10).

As the story continues and the suffering mounts, Job’s words take on a different tone. Chapter 21 records his anger at God: “My complaint is with God, not with people” (verse 4) and “Who is the Almighty, and why should we obey him? What good will it do us to pray?” (verse 15).

Then we read God’s response in chapters 40–41. He calls out Job’s lack of understanding about the world and suffering and God’s character and abilities. Ouch!

Job responds,

I know that you can do anything,

and no one can stop you.

You asked, ‘Who is this that questions my wisdom with such ignorance?’

It is I—and I was talking about things I knew nothing about,

things far too wonderful for me.

I take back everything I said,

and I sit in dust and ashes to show my repentance.

Job 42:1-3, 6

God and Job, after several rounds of verbal sparring, restored their relationship.

I love that God did not abandon Job utterly, disgusted with Job’s verbal thrashing and anguished doubt.

And I love that Job did not abandon God, despite God calling him out for his ignorance.

Loyalty.

Job and God did not give up on each other. They talked through really hard stuff and salvaged their relationship. That motivates me. I want to remember this messy story of Job as I navigate my own messy relationships and seek to “assume the best and talk about the rest.”

How I love hearing that loyalty does still exist in our world—loyalty to people not just to brands. Amy reminded me of this by telling me about her not-always-easy friendship with a woman she met in college.

I met Dawn as a freshman our first week on campus. We lived on the same floor and quickly discovered that we had chosen similar majors. As we spent time together, I felt drawn to her enthusiasm for life, sense of humor, and love for God.

We decided to room together sophomore year and every year after that.

I couldn’t afford to fly home to the East Coast over Thanksgiving, so Dawn invited me to spend the holiday with her family who lived locally. Dawn’s mom quickly became my second mom.

After graduation, Dawn sang “Ave Maria” at our wedding and served as one of my bridesmaids. I still remember the sound of her beautiful soprano voice filling the church. She had a gift.

Dawn met a man during college. When I questioned her multiple times about the hasty relationship, she listened but insisted on marrying this man anyway. I agreed to be a bridesmaid.

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