Cliché Counsel

Counseling Session or SalesmanThere are times when a cliché comes to my mind and there may very well be a nugget of truth inside it, but also seems a bit shallow. Cliché’s are often used in a quick retort or reply to someone when they are in the middle of a situation that is a big deal. For example, a young teenage girl gets dumped by a guy…as an adult, I know that “this too will pass”, or “there are other fish in the sea”. That does nothing to help this young girl whose heart is crushed. I think what she needs from a friend is maybe a hug and listening ear. She definitely doesn’t need cliché’s.

Job is in a royal mess. He has lost his family, all his possessions and his health is really bad with sores and deep pain. He has three “friends” who come to his side. He will be given a different perspective for sure, but Eliphaz also gives what I think is cliché counsel. Check this out…

8 ‘But if I were you, I would appeal to God;

    I would lay my cause before him.

9 He performs wonders that cannot be fathomed,

    miracles that cannot be counted.

10 He provides rain for the earth;

    he sends water on the countryside.

11 The lowly he sets on high,

    and those who mourn are lifted to safety. (Job 5:8-11 NIV)

I suspect Job was thinking: “Duh” when Eliphaz was talking. However, I think sometimes I need to be reminded of truth that I already believe and live by. There are times that I’ve lost proper perspective on God, and while I’m not a fan of the cliché, it can reel me back in. In the middle of my pain and suffering I can’t always think clearly. In the middle of a crisis, my thinking can be a bit warped.

I remembered a great song just now by Third Day called: Cry Out To Jesus.

To everyone who’s lost someone they love

Long before it was their time

You feel like the days you had were not enough

When you said goodbye

 

And to all of the people with burdens and pains

Keeping you back from your life

You believe that there’s nothing and there is no one

Who can make it right

 

Chorus:

There is hope for the helpless

Rest for the weary

Love for the broken heart

There is grace and forgiveness

Mercy and healing

He’ll meet you wherever you are

Cry out to Jesus, Cry out to Jesus

 

For the marriage that’s struggling just to hang on

They lost all of their faith in love

They’ve done all they can to make it right again

Still it’s not enough

 

For the ones who can’t break the addictions and chains

You try to give up but you come back again

Just remember that you’re not alone in your shame

And your suffering

 

When you’re lonely

And it feels like the whole world is falling on you

You just reach out, you just cry out to Jesus

Cry to Jesus

 

To the widow who suffers from being alone

Wiping the tears from her eyes

For the children around the world without a home

Say a prayer tonight

 

There is hope for the helpless

Rest for the weary

Love for the broken heart

There is grace and forgiveness

Mercy and healing

He’ll meet you wherever you are

There is hope for the helpless

Rest for the weary

Love for the broken heart

There is grace and forgiveness

Mercy and healing

He’ll meet you wherever you are

Cry out to Jesus, Cry out to Jesus

Songwriters: Brad Avery / David Carr / Mac Powell / Mark Lee / Tai Anderson

I don’t think this song is a cliché as much as it is simply laying your struggle down at the feet of the Lord.

Pressing On!

Dwayne

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