In the Blink of His Eye

A Reflection on the First Reading for Sunday, February 4th, 2024:
​Fifth Sunday in Ordinary Time

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Job
7.1-4, 6-7​

Job spoke to his friends: “Does not the human being have a hard service on earth, and are not their days like the days of a labourer? Like a slave who longs for the shadow, and like a labourer who looks for their wages, so I am allotted months of emptiness, and nights of misery are apportioned to me.

“When I lie down I say, ‘When shall I rise?’ But the night is long, and I am full of tossing until dawn.

“My days are swifter than a weaver’s shuttle, and come to their end without hope. Remember that my life is a breath; my eye will never again see good.”

Pause. Pray. Reflect.

When I was relatively new to being in a relationship with Jesus, I decided to commit myself to a weekly hour of adoration at our parish. I signed up and, at the appointed time, arrived at the church. There I was, just me and Jesus and a whole, big empty church. I knelt in prayer for what felt like at least 45 minutes, and when I rose from my knees and checked the time, found that about five minutes had passed. I had no idea how I was going to get through a full hour. I wandered to the back of the church to a little table that had reading materials on it and found a booklet on Job. Taking it back to my seat, I began to read about this devoted man who suffered for years and remained faithful to God. I’ve never forgotten that hour of adoration. The Lord used that hour and my desire to be nearer to Him to speak directly to me, assuring me that, regardless of any trial, I can trust in Him.

And there have been trials. Like Job’s lament in this reading, there have been days where it seemed that the chaos would never end, and when I lay down at night to rest, my mind would continue to turn whatever the current issue was over and over, trying to use my humanness to solve it. I’d wake the next morning more exhausted and even less equipped than the day before to deal with whatever was going on. I would sink further into a pit of despair, wishing my time away and praying only for my will to be done.

When I am finally taken to my knees and throw my hands up in surrender, I remember where my will needs to go. I need to let go and trust in Him. It hasn’t always resulted in the road becoming suddenly easier, but when I remember to place my will in His hands, I find that my soul is lighter. I rest easier at night, knowing that this, too, will eventually pass, and there will come a day when, while I may remember whatever the situation was, I will no longer feel the pain. I will look back at it and be able to see the growth and gift that came of it. Days that, without Him, feel endless, will indeed have passed more swiftly than the blink of an eye because I am held in the Saviour’s hand. I don’t want to waste even one of those blinks of an eye. I want each one to be a testament to His glory.

Let us pray: Lord, thank You for Your faithfulness, even amid the storm. Help me to remember that Your hand is always on the rudder of my ship, guiding me to the destination You have planned for me. Grace me with the wisdom to always trust in Your plan and the sure knowledge that suffering brings me closer to You, and to give all the glory to You. Amen.




Sandy Graves​

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