Lessons We Learn from Job (When Bad Things Happen)
Nothing will happen to you that God does not allow.
Your suffering doesn’t usually mean that God is upset with you or that God is punishing you. Your suffering may very well be Satan attacking you or the fact that you’re experiencing the consequences of living in a fallen world where everyone hurts.
So, when you’re hurting, don’t say, “I can’t make it.” Say, “I am able to do all things through him who strengthens me” (Philippians 4:13).
Don’t say, “I can’t stand it anymore.” Say, “My God will supply all my needs according to his riches in glory in Christ Jesus” (Philippians 4:19).
Don’t say, “I’m gonna break.” Say, “The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want” Psalm 23:1).
These are good things to say, but maybe you’re still wondering why God allows us to struggle. Why does God allow us to go through pain? Why doesn’t God make all of life smooth and easy for us?
Sometimes God allows us to suffer…
• To mature us
Romans 5:3-4…
3 And not only that, but we also boast in our afflictions, because we know that affliction produces endurance, 4 endurance produces proven character, and proven character produces hope.
Sometimes God allows us to go through pain…
• To comfort others
2 Corinthians 1:4…
4 He comforts us in all our affliction, so that we may be able to comfort those who are in any kind of affliction, through the comfort we ourselves receive from God.
When we go through trying times, usually the most helpful person is someone who’s been there and done that.
God allows us to suffer…
• To test us
James 1:12…
12 Blessed is the one who endures trials, because when he has stood the test he will receive the crown of life that God has promised to those who love him.
Not too many of us liked taking tests in school. However, a test provides an opportunity for us to demonstrate our knowledge. If you study well enough, you’ll be rewarded with a good grade. The better prepared you are, the less you dread the test. When life gets difficult, it provides an opportunity for us who have strong faith to testify to our convictions. It’s an opportunity to prove to others and to us that our faith is real.
And then sometimes God allows suffering…
• To appreciate Jesus’ suffering
Philippians 3:10-11…
10 My goal is to know him and the power of his resurrection and the fellowship of his sufferings, being conformed to his death, 11 assuming that I will somehow reach the resurrection from among the dead.
Think about this:
• If I’m betrayed by a friend, I can appreciate how Jesus felt when Judas betrayed him.
• If I’m anxious, I can appreciate what Jesus went through in the Garden of Gethsemane.
• When someone makes fun of me, I can appreciate what Jesus went through in his trials.
• When people criticize me, I can appreciate what Jesus went through when the religious leaders lied about him.
• When I’m in pain, I can appreciate what Jesus endured when he was nailed to the cross.
Perhaps God allowed Satan to attack Job in order to mature him, to experience something that would bring comfort to others, to prove his faith, and to appreciate what Jesus would go through for him someday.
Job’s story continues in chapter 1.
13 One day when Job’s sons and daughters were eating and drinking wine in their oldest brother’s house, 14 a messenger came to Job and reported, “While the oxen were plowing and the donkeys grazing nearby, 15 the Sabeans swooped down and took them away. They struck down the servants with the sword, and I alone have escaped to tell you!”
16 He was still speaking when another messenger came and reported, “God’s fire fell from heaven. It burned the sheep and the servants and devoured them, and I alone have escaped to tell you!”
17 That messenger was still speaking when yet another came and reported, “The Chaldeans formed three bands, made a raid on the camels, and took them away. They struck down the servants with the sword, and I alone have escaped to tell you!”
Suddenly, Job’s life fell completely apart. One moment he was the wealthiest man in the East, and the next he’s flat broke. But it only gets worse for Job…
18 He was still speaking when another messenger came and reported, “Your sons and daughters were eating and drinking wine in their oldest brother’s house. 19 Suddenly a powerful wind swept in from the desert and struck the four corners of the house. It collapsed on the young people so that they died, and I alone have escaped to tell you!”
Perhaps the worst thing that can happen to a person is to lose a child. Job loses all ten of his at once. But watch his reaction here…
20 Then Job stood up, tore his robe, and shaved his head. He fell to the ground and worshiped, 21 saying: Naked I came from my mother’s womb, and naked I will leave this life. The Lord gives, and the Lord takes away. Blessed be the name of the Lord.
22 Throughout all this Job did not sin or blame God for anything.
I want you to notice something here. Job mourned and grieved before he worshipped God. He didn’t pretend like nothing happened. It’s healthy to react genuinely by grieving and mourning because pain hurts even when we have faith in God. Job is hurt. He’s grieving. But he worships God in the next breath.
What we learn from Job is…
A key to endurance is worship.
Job didn’t shake his fist at God and curse him as Satan had predicted. Instead, he worshipped God.
• Faith is holding on when you don’t understand.
• Faith is worshipping even when you don’t feel like it.
• Faith is biting your tongue when you’re angry and feel like cursing.
• Faith is trusting that though things are painful now, there’s still a God in heaven who will work it all out.
What’s the alternative? How many answers do you get when you decide not to believe in God anymore? Does atheism give you answers?
In John chapter 6, some of the disciples started giving up on Jesus and leaving him. Jesus wondered if the 12 apostles were gonna leave him too. But Peter tells him…
68 … “Lord, to whom will we go? You have the words of eternal life.”
Faith is praying, “God, I don’t know where you are right now. I don’t know why you’ve allowed this terrible thing to happen to me. But I still believe in you. I still believe that you love me. You sent Jesus to die for me. I still believe you’re gonna take me to heaven someday. I’m really weak right now, and I need your help to endure this situation.”
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