Cliché Counsel
There 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