Today’s Reading: Job 11-18, Psalm 30
“Should we accept only good things from the hand of God and never anything bad?” – Job 2:10
Job’s friends seemed to have an understanding of Job’s sufferings as if it was simply Job’s turn. He had been blessed for years and now it was his turn to suffer the realities of life. When they could have encouraged him, Job’s friends chose instead to mock him. Where is your faith, Job, and where are your confident words now that the shoe is on the other foot?
“Your words have supported those who were failing; you encouraged those with shaky knees. But now when trouble strikes, you lose heart. You are terrified when it touches you. Doesn’t your reverence for God give you confidence? Doesn’t your life of integrity give you hope?” – Job 4:4-6
When we are going through a difficult time, the words of our friends are powerful. They can speak life and truth into our situation, or they can speak defeat and discouragement. It is sometimes difficult to decipher the truth from lies when our emotions are high and we are exhausted from our circumstances. The power of words can either encourage us to persevere or cause us to fall into despair. Job followed the lead of his friends and began to question where God was.
QUESTIONING THE PRESENCE OF GOD
Job developed an attitude of self-pity and defeat. What good does it do to argue with God if He isn’t listening? Why cry out if He doesn’t bother to respond?
“So who am I that I should try to answer God or even reason with him? Even if I were right, I would have no defense. I could only plead for mercy. And even if I summoned him and he responded, I’m not sure he would listen to me. For he attacks me with a storm and repeatedly wounds me without cause. He will not let me catch my breath, but fills me instead with bitter sorrows. If it’s a question of strength, he’s the strong one. If it’s a matter of justice, who dares to summon him to court?” – Job 9:14-19
I agree with Elihu’s response to Job when he said, “But it is wrong to say God doesn’t listen, to say the Almighty isn’t concerned” (Job 35:13). It may feel at times as if God isn’t paying attention. Job felt that. The psalmist David felt that. Perhaps you are feeling that right now. Please let me encourage you with the truth that God loves you and He is never uninvolved, He is never uncaring and He never leaves you alone. Let’s pray the 30th Psalm together:
I give you all the credit, God—
you got me out of that mess, you didn’t let my foes gloat.
God, my God, I yelled for help and you put me together.
God, you pulled me out of the grave,
gave me another chance at life when I was down-and-out.
All you saints! Sing your hearts out to God! Thank him to his face!
He gets angry once in awhile, but across a lifetime there is only love.
The nights of crying your eyes out give way to days of laughter.
When things were going great I crowed, “I’ve got it made.
I’m God’s favorite. He made me king of the mountain.”
Then you looked the other way and I fell to pieces.
I called out to you, God; I laid my case before you:
“Can you sell me for a profit when I’m dead?
Auction me off at a cemetery yard sale?
When I’m ‘dust to dust’ my songs and stories of you won’t sell.
So listen! And be kind! Help me out of this!”
You did it: you changed wild lament into whirling dance;
You ripped off my black mourning band and decked me with wildflowers.
I’m about to burst with song; I can’t keep quiet about you.
God, my God, I can’t thank you enough. – Psalm 30, The Message