Broken

As we look at the life of Job, around 1580 BC and his devoted friends, we seemingly find ourselves in the exact mindset they were in. If some unfortunate event occurs in our lives, it must have happened due to our lack of pious commitment or spiritual neglect. While we read and speak often of his story, we become just as Eliphaz, Bildad, and Zophar his dear dutiful cohorts. And, of course, later there is always an Elihu; a young, bright, and enthusiastic well-wisher who will set everyone straight with the new found insight into the situation by offering his take on the events. Elihu holds the view that the reason the situation is not any better is because the “old heads” are not willing to tell the truth and he has been given the mantle of rightness to set everyone in their place to include the “Job” that is involved. In this book, Bishop Jerlette Mickie feverishly seeks to give us insight as to why unfortunate, heartbreaking circumstances take place in our life as he exposes himself. Is it, as supposed, that you have sinned against God or that you refuse to walk in the paths He has chosen for you? Some even have the audacity to ask, “Are you really serving Christ as you should?” The friends of Job return from history to resound their feelings again, “If you are suffering, it must be happening because you did something wrong I have observed many of God’s people; faithful, trustworthy, honest, and full of integrity go through tragedies they have not warranted nor deserved. Yet, they remained as true as the ancient Job.Though He slay me, yet will I trust in Him (Job 13:15a).” Today they are as committed and stalwart as ever. Their faith has not been moved, even though it seems as if they have every right to become angry, infuriated, and totally despondent to the things they have held to for so long. Yet, their walk has not wavered. They believe what mama told them is the truth, “Chil, da Lord won’t leave ya!” Being one of those persons, I believe this book addresses some of the concerns and woes of many. It wrestles with the controversy as to whether it is your inconsistency, unfaithfulness, and hidden sins or is it from other causes that you are going through this tumultuous experience. Did God really allow this to happen for your development? Bishop Mickie opens up another view to us and causes us to think what the real cause of our suffering is. He hits home when he comments that this may be a part of your destiny and God’s plan for your life.It certainly does not have to come from something you did. The maxim, which states, “Good things happen to bad people and bad things happen to good people” holds true in this sense. He painstakingly tries to convey that all suffering is not because of wrong doings.Far too long we have taken this position and far too many have walked away from our faith because it has not “worked” the way it was supposed to. The truth is outlined in these pages.Another view on why these events have taken place and visited our doorsteps may be that you are the modern day Job. Maybe God asked Satan to consider you. We always want to understand those things that are in our lives and when we do not, things become unraveled. Our worlds collide with antiquity, and like Job, we are faced with, “Why is this happening to me?” We draw to every potion and herb we can find. We get into every prayer line to see if we can get this thing off of us. We have been prayed over for so long that the only thing we have left is our unswerving faith and dependability in Jesus. The next time someone ask you why this “bad” thing occurred in their life; pass this book on to them.My hopes are that they will get a glimpse of their destiny and place in God. It is a joy to suffer for righteousness sake, but what happens when you do not feel it is for righteousness that you are going through? Bishop Mickie has exposed himself and becomes our modern day Job of suffering and is still doing the will of his Savior. He has taken his trials and tribulations and has transformed them to rejoicing moments of victoryDue to his trials, he has learned to think big and to stretch his imagination and faith as to what the Lord has called him to do