The job promotion we thought we should have received. The argument that left you saying and doing things that you later regret. The loss of a loved one that came out of nowhere. The diagnosis of a medical condition that alters the life you were used to. The betrayal of a friend whom you had trusted. The expectations were set on a holiday season that didn’t go according to plan.
Job’s story helps us look and think about our human sufferings and how we can remain faithful in the midst of suffering. Job was going through tremendous suffering. He had lost everything he thought was dear to his life. He didn’t know the answers to why he was suffering, and the advice shared by friends was a mixture of truth and error, providing no answers and intensifying his pain.
Job 17:15 where then is my hope— who can see any hope for me?
How about you? Any suffering? Are any questions not answered causing more physical or mental anguish? I can confess I have had and currently struggle and will probably run into something new tomorrow.
I know my suffering is not comparable right now to what Job endured. Yet even in these times of pain, frustration, and loss, Job never gave in. After being encouraged to throw in the towel, he fought back.
I wrestled in HS and college. Throughout those years, the tougher competition in practice and during a wrestling meet made me better. The more challenging competition helped me to train harder, be more intentional in my preparation, and challenged me to have more grit. Job wrestled with God. Jacob fought with an angel of the Lord all night. (Genesis 32:24-30) Peter argued with God. Acts 10:9-16) Job dug deep and asked hard questions, prayed with purpose, repented his sins, and never let the world talk him into giving up. The world wants us to give up. God wants us to grow. He gives us these moments of fear, pain, questioning, and doubt, not to give in but to wrestle. To grow in our spiritual walk. This wrestling can help me grow from a less mature understanding of God than before.
In the end, Job, even though he suffered much, trusted God to rescue him. Will I? Will you?
Job 19: 25-26 I know that my Redeemer lives, and that in the end He will stand upon the earth. 26. And after my skin has been destroyed, yet in my flesh I will see God.
Today’s Reading: Job 15-17 & Revelation 14