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The Patience of Job

The Patience of Job

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The Patience of Job--Bible open to book of JobDo you know people with the patience of Job? Those I admire include:

  • Parents with a houseful of children
  • Teachers with rowdy, disrespectful students
  • Doctors with full waiting rooms who take time to answer questions

The patience of Job refers to people with great patience.

They stay calm in the middle of chaos. They treat others with kindness — even those rude to them.

People with the patience of Job endure through every circumstance.

They rarely waver despite:

  • Illness
  • Financial problems
  • Relationship struggles
  • Work overload

The patience of a saint means the same.

We often wonder how those people stay cool as a cucumber while others sweat bullets.

They rarely:

  • Yell
  • Act frustrated
  • Blame others

Instead, they:

  • Speak quietly
  • Do what needs to be done
  • Take responsibility when they do anything wrong

This expression refers to Job, a man in the Bible, who lost almost everything.

His losses included:

  • All his children
  • Possessions
  • Health

Job could not understand his suffering but stood firm in his faith.

Although he received little support from people, he relied on God.

Eventually:

  • Job’s health was restored.
  • He had more children.
  • His possessions doubled.

One constant for Job: Through all his ups and downs, God was always there.

“I know that my redeemer lives, and that in the end he will stand on the earth. And after my skin has been destroyed, yet in my flesh I will see God” (Job 19:25-26 NIV).

Thanks to Jessi Gowen for the suggestion.

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By the Skin of My Teeth

By the Skin of My Teeth

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By the Skin of My TeethTeeth have no skin, but we know skin is thin. So, if I escape a problem by the skin of my teeth, I barely get by.

For example:

  • A car almost hits me.
  • I pass a test with a “D” grade.
  • I almost lose my job.
  • I narrowly escape death.

In each case, disaster was close, but it did not happen.

We find this big fish at Wisconsin’s House on the Rock. The bird and boat inside the fish did not escape by the skin of their teeth. Instead, the teeth of the fish trapped them.

We can often avoid problems and narrow escapes.

  • Careful driving prevents many accidents.
  • Regular study results in better grades.
  • Honest work improves job security.
  • Good eating, sleeping, and exercise mean better health.

Sometimes, bad things happen anyway. They did for Job in the Bible. He lost almost everything. Yet, he did not give up. He continued to believe in God, who remains with us through good times and bad.

“I am nothing but skin and bones; I have escaped only by the skin of my teeth” (Job 19:20 NIV).

Do you have an expression you want explained? If so, please comment below.

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