Reaching Out in the Uncomfortable

I can't bring myself to fully read the Book of Job. I’m familiar with the basics of the story and have heard it proclaimed at Mass but it's so hard for me to read and study it in its entirety. I am uncomfortable taking in all the details of the poor man’s sorrow and misery, and I struggle to search his grief for lessons (Job 3:1-3, 11-17, 20-23).

I suppose, too, I don’t know how to get involved. What do we do with Job’s story? What do I say to Job or anyone else who has lost everything, everyone, he loved? How do I care for a person who wishes he would have never been born?

And then, too, I hardly know what to say to God about all this besides, I don’t know what to do here. I wonder, what does He want me to do with these horrible, sad facts about Job's life?

I don’t have answers, just a nudging in my heart that God wants me to be uncomfortable here, in this safe spot with Him and His Word, so that He can stretch me, love me, show me. Perhaps eventually, with enough time spent in His presence I will have the words. Perhaps then I will know what to do.

Today is the Feast of our Guardian Angels, the beings God has sent to guide and guard us through our days. In light of the readings, I wonder how often they try to guide us to prayer, the Bible, or the Sacraments so that God can form us while we are close to Him. I also wonder how often they try to guide us to love and reach and touch and serve in ways that are uncomfortable. And how often do I ignore them?

Today let us all ask the Holy Spirit to be receptive to the ways our Guardian Angels are leading us, so that we may see those who need love, comfort, and joy.

Today let us all ask the Holy Spirit to be receptive to the ways our Guardian Angels are leading us, so that we may see those who need love, comfort, and joy.Click to tweet

Re-read today's readings. Click back over. Sit in the uncomfortable parts and ask God what is here for you to take in and be changed by. Pray to the Holy Spirit to guide you.

Bonnie Engstrom is a writer, baker, speaker, and homemaker. She, her husband, and seven children live in central Illinois, and her son’s alleged miraculous healing through the intercession of Venerable Fulton Sheen was submitted to the Vatican for Sheen’s beatification. Bonnie pretends she has a green thumb, bakes a fantastic chocolate chip cookie, loves naps and chai tea, and blogs. You can find out more about her here. She is the author of the Blessed Conversations Mystery: Believe study found here.