Morning Visits

What is man, that you make so much of him, and that you set your heart on him, visit him every morning and test him every moment?
Job 7:17–18
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Morning Visits
We teach our children to pray, “I pray, forgive me all my sins, where I have done wrong, and graciously keep me this night.”  In this prayer we are asking God’s blessings throughout the night.  We are entrusting our children to the care of our merciful Father during the time in our life when we are most vulnerable.  Upon waking we respond with, “I thank You, my heavenly Father, through Jesus Christ, Your dear Son, that You have kept me this night from all harm and danger.” We acknowledge God’s protection throughout the night and welcome the morning.  But for Job, the morning does not bring relief, but only anguish, as He wakes to the suffering he endures.  He even speaks of his dreams being nothing but anguish as well (v. 14).  What is Job to do one might ask.  Sleeping or awakened he finds not relief.  Job can only focus on the suffering and place it on God, as if He were the cause and source of all that ails him.  Job is correct in going to God with His suffering, just not in placing the blame on Him.  We are to turn to God and “call upon [His name] in every trouble, pray, praise, and give thanks.”  We do well to remember this.  God invites us to come to Him every morning and every evening and all the time in between.  For when evening arrives and morning visits, we pray, “For into Your hands I commend myself, my body and soul, and all things. Let Your holy angel be with me, so that the wicked foe may have no power over me. Amen”