When Righteousness Does Not Reach, Where Are You?

Job Chapter 9.

Job responds.

 words deepen as they layer 

“Indeed, it is true.”

“How can a person be righteous before God?”

God is great.

A person cannot stand before Him.

Job acknowledges

the greatness of God.

Job does not deny

God’s righteousness.

Nor does he let go

of his own.

Yet between the two,

there is no path.

It is not denial.

It is not rebellion.

He is simply

standing still.

A person cannot stand before God

by their own righteousness.

Righteousness exists.

Yet there is no path there.

People try to reach an answer

through what is right.

Because they believe

if they are right,

they can move forward.

But before God,

it does not hold.

Job is still speaking.

He is speaking toward God.

Yet his words

are beginning to lose their place.

The speaking has not stopped.

Yet it does not reach.

The same thing

is happening now,

inside you.

A person tries to hold on

to what is right.

Because they believe

it will bring them closer to God.

Yet it does not reach.

Then,

they turn back toward God.

There,

awareness is given.

When righteousness does not reach,

where are you?

Do you remain

in human righteousness?

Or do you turn back toward God,

and stand in the place

where awareness is given?

Job is trying to stand

before God.

Yet he cannot see the way.

God has not yet spoken.

Righteousness may be affirmed,

but it does not reach.