The story of Job begins with Job’s faithfulness. It ends with the faithfulness of God. Everything in between is about this difficult, but beautiful dance between creature and Creator. Job and God are in this together. They are not adversaries, though at times it may feel that way.
Intimacy is not predicated on things going our way. Any married person can testify to that. It is a central theme to traditional vows. An intimate relationship is about personal togetherness.
Job and God experience this dance of togetherness throughout the difficult story of Job. His friends tempt him to abandon the relationship. They question its nature and the pain it causes. In the end, Job discovers the truth. He discovers oneness. And the Lord demonstrates His faithfulness to His servant.
Life is hard. Things rarely go the way we expect. Sadness and difficulty and disappointment are a ready part of each day.
Through it all, the Lord is faithful. And He calls us to be faithful. The reward is not an ease of circumstance but a relationship of intimacy. A unified relationship filled with communication, perseverance, and perspective.
We are dance partners with God, just like Job. We have the opportunity to explore the difficult challenge of intimacy alongside the Creator of the cosmos.