Request, not Protest

It seems to me we live in a day of protest, to gather to declare opposition.  Because of the widespread utilisation of protests these days there is little need for me to cite examples of protests or groups that mobilise and gather to oppose the protestors!  Protests are an intriguing social phenomenon, for while they may draw attention to a cause they can also harden the perception of others against them.  As long as protests do not disrupt or negatively impact the lives of others by blocking traffic or destroying property, most people outside the protest pay little mind.  Protesting seems to do more to bolster the morale of people involved in protesting because by shouting slogans and carrying signs they hope to be heard and effect change.  Being unified in opposition against something can bring people together to form a community and a sense of belonging they could cultivate by themselves.

I have been studying through the book of Job and I continue to marvel over his response to the intense personal tragedy of losing his possessions, wealth and children in a day.  Job did not protest to receive evil from the almighty God, for he had also received great good from Him.  When he heard the devastating news of theft, destruction and death Job tore his clothes, shaved his head and fell down in worship of God.  In a day when people take a stand daily for basic human rights, it is shocking how Job humbled himself as he submitted to losing everything.  I wonder:  is there found in God's people the humility, the resignation, to accept such awful news like Job did from God and bless the LORD?  In humbling himself before God in worship, I am convinced Job accomplished far more than he would have by protesting before men.  When the law was signed that prayer was restricted to king Darius for 30 days, Daniel did not protest:  he went home, opened his windows toward Jerusalem and he prayed according to his daily routine.  After he was thrown to the lions for breaking the decree God shut the mouths of the hungry lions who did him no harm.  Protesting cannot do what requests to God can.

Having made our requests known to the almighty God, what is a protest except to appeal to men for strength and confidence?  If God has heard our voice cry out to Him, do we need to shout to be heard? Consider the words of Jeremiah 17:5-8:  "Thus says the LORD: "Cursed is the man who trusts in man and makes flesh his strength, whose heart departs from the LORD. ⁶ For he shall be like a shrub in the desert, and shall not see when good comes, but shall inhabit the parched places in the wilderness, in a salt land which is not inhabited. ⁷ "Blessed is the man who trusts in the LORD, and whose hope is the LORD. ⁸ For he shall be like a tree planted by the waters, which spreads out its roots by the river, and will not fear when heat comes; but its leaf will be green, and will not be anxious in the year of drought, nor will cease from yielding fruit."  It is a curse to make flesh your strength, whether it is your own flesh or the power, influence and ability of others.  This reliance upon anyone rather than God exposes a heart that departs from the LORD.  One of the consequences of this self-inflicted curse is the inability to see when good comes; it is blindness to notice what God is doing and will accomplish.  Like a shrub in a parched land, the one who makes flesh his strength will be alone without refreshment.

The one who trusts and hopes in the LORD is compared by the prophet to a tree planted by waters with a well-established and supportive root system.  This believer can face searing heat of trials without fear and endure drought without feeling anxious, for the needs of this tree are supplied by God who causes growth and fruitfulness in season.  Having been established in the goodness and grace of God, Job was enabled to endure an awful series of trials.  When he lay there in dust and ashes and scraped his boils with a broken piece of pottery, based upon his discourse at the time Job did not feel fruitful or blessed:  he felt ruined and absolutely destroyed without remedy.  Though everything had gone horribly wrong, faith in God moved Job to bless the LORD anyway.  Better than protesting is to bless the LORD at all times whether our voices heard or views shared by men, for God is our strength and refuge.  Philippians 4:6-7 reads, "Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God;⁷ and the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus."  Having made our request before our God we worship and trust, we can rest assured He will accomplish more than our protesting ever could.