Job 2:1–10 ‘His wife said to him, “Are you still maintaining your integrity? Curse God and die!” He replied, “You are talking like a foolish woman. Shall we accept good from God, and not trouble?” In all this, Job did not sin in what he said.’ (vv9–10)
We read Bible stories with the benefit of hindsight and life’s uncertainties appear easier when bravely experienced by some historic hero.
Job, facing the loss of all he loved most followed by a brutal illness, pioneered a path of living hope through suffering that helps us with our pain today.
For everyone facing loss and chronic illness owe Job a debt of gratitude. Whilst he fought to maintain faith in God’s faithfulness, his witness was interpreted as a stubborn refusal to face reality by friend and surviving family alike.
Their failure of faith was projected onto Job. If only he’d give up and acknowledge his sinfulness as the source of his suffering, everyone’s world could go back to normal.
Sadly, bad things happen to good people. It’s not our life circumstances that God’s interested in, it’s our response to those circumstances.
We’re invited to complain about such circumstances to ease feelings of pressure and despair, yet we’re invited to seek God in such struggles.
Our ability to locate and then love God in our troubles offers hope to those observing our battles. This is our witness to a watching world.
Even in the valley of death God accompanies us. It doesn’t look pleasant, in fact it’s hell on earth, but good news!
Jesus visited hell, filling it with His glory before ascending back into heaven (1 Pet. 3:18–22). Hindsight can fictionalise the experience of those recorded in Scripture.
We, like them, are invited to find God’s presence and reality in the bad as well as the good.
A Prayer To Make:
‘Lord, help me to find You when I most need You, and nurture my mustard seed of faith. Amen.’
An Action To Take:
Maintaining faith when suffering is tough, but there is encouragement in the Bible and in the testimony of Christians throughout history. Keep going and let’s be true friends, not critics, for those who are suffering.
Scripture To Consider:
Ps. 23:1–6; Hab. 3:16–19; Matt. 9:20–22; 2 Tim. 2:1–13
