We won’t always understand the “why” behind the “what”—but we can learn to trust the “Who."
I find that I often think that if I could just understand the reason behind my pain that I could endure it with much more grace. But the fact is that more often than not the "why" remains a hidden mystery. Job certainly didn't have the benefit of insight into his pain. He had no idea that he was the topic of a divine conversation taking place in heaven. He was given no special word from the Lord to forewarn him and advise him of the ensuing calamity. Fortunately, we do. In chapter 1 and 2 we are told that the reason that Job suffers such pain is that God allowed Satan to push Job to the brink of despair. The conversation went something like this: God: “Have you considered my servant Job? He is upright and righteous and without fault.” Satan: "Of course he is,” Satan taunts—"life is working for him—he’s living the dream! But if you allowed me to remove all of those things, he’d curse you." Then in a synchronized Satanic attack, Job was robbed of his wealth (all of his livestock, and all of his employees were lost to a raid by the Sabeans while simultaneously a firestorm in the fields completely burned the remaining animals and servants); and all of his children perished as a tornado picked up the four corners of his eldest sons home where all of Job’s children were gathered to eat, and crushed the party. And yet in all of that Job did not sin or curse God. In Chapter 2, God once invites Satan into a follow-up conversation: God: "What do you think now? Job still maintains his integrity, though you incited me against him to ruin him without any reason.” Satan: "You wouldn’t let me touch him—let me touch him, let me let him feel the pain, then you’ll hear him curse you!" And as Job mourned the losses of family and wealth, Satan was permitted to ravage Job with a painful skin disease that tormented him from the soles of his feet to the top of his head. And yet in all of this, Job did not sin or curse God—though at this point his wife begged him to do so and seek death. Satan was convinced that Job found his “life” and satisfaction in the good things, in the blessings of God—in the second things—but not in God Himself. God knew otherwise. We may never have to endure the level of sudden and intense suffering of Job, but then again, we may. Job begins a painful journey to joy that begins with a step into despair and says: I won’t always understand the “why” behind the “what”—but I can learn to trust the “Who.” How will we respond?
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