There was a man

in the land of Uz

whose name was Job,

and that man was

    blameless and upright,

one who feared God

and turned away from evil.

               Job 1.1

(Job was an ordinary man.

He was not perfect,

but what distinguished

   --and empowered him--

was that he loved God,

worshiped

and followed Him.

And through

his daily spiritual practices

       and choices,

God strengthened him

for the hard stuff

we all struggle with.

Could Job have endured

if he had not already

set his heart and mind

           on the LORD?

Not in his strength,

but God's strength in him.)

O LORD,

We all face potholes

and cliffhangers

and hard stuff.

Grant us the endurance

to not just get through

but that You bring

        Your glory in it.

Help us to follow You

with great intention

to worship,

love and serve You

     in our daily decisions.