God's story in your suffering

One of my favorite Bible teachers is Chuck Swindoll. I have always appreciated his commitment to the text and his insight into practical applications. His integrity is also noteworthy to me. He remains the same, whether I’m in the audience listening to him speak to a large crowd or sitting with him one-on-one at lunch. There is no showmanship or pretense. I find that both rare and refreshing.

As we conclude our study of Job, let’s take a moment to reflect on and think through the book's ending. A quick reading of the last verses can seem too “fairytale-ish”—"And Job lived happily ever after.”

Prayer “takes in man in his whole being, mind, soul, and body.” Job's conversations with God teach us a great deal about prayer. God’s servant does not hold back; he expresses what is in his entire being. This is also how prayer is conveyed in the Psalms.

Have you ever been hurt, deeply hurt, by a friend? By someone you confided in, a person with whom you were vulnerable? You loved spending time with them, and everything was so good…until it wasn’t. It never ceases to amaze me how quickly things can change. When Job’s life crumbled, most of his friends disappeared. Granted, after Job was restored, they returned, offered Job “sympathy and comfort,” and joined in the celebration party (Job 42:11); however, most stayed away when Job was at his lowest.

What are you afraid of? What frightens you? What do you dread? What are the “what-ifs” that keep you spiritually stuck? The word “fear” shows up—ready for this? — 443 times in the Bible! “Afraid” is found 167 times. “Tremble” appears 101 times. We could add similar words to the list that would keep us counting.

In our study of Job, we have considered his character, suffering, and restoration. We circled back to address questions like “Where did evil come from?” and “Why does God allow suffering?” We have stressed the importance of being spiritually grounded because, let’s face it, much of life takes place in a storm, coming out of a storm, or getting ready to enter a storm. During the next few days, let’s consider what it looks like and feels like to talk to God in the storm.

Two times in the book's first chapter, Job is described as “blameless and upright, one who feared God and turned away from evil” (Job 1:1, 8). Let’s pause to consider this significant statement. Since we all have sinned and fall short of God’s holy standard, Job was not “blameless and upright” due to inherent goodness. There was a time in his life when God opened his eyes to the truth of the good news.

Laura was distraught when her husband died. Cancer took him in his mid-forties. She clung to her strong faith in the Lord, knowing there was little time to grieve. Life on a Kansas farm meant more work than hours in the day. Laura and her six children worked from sunup to sundown to provide for their family. It was a team effort.

God is sovereign over all. His response to Job made it clear that the Almighty created all things and controls them. Yet, evil exists. Countries attack other nations, causing the deaths of thousands. Tornadoes sweep across the United States, destroying communities. Diseases ravage our bodies. Why?