We all undergo suffering in the world and each of us have a different ways to handle suffering, as we suffer there are many expressions we show - anger / lament / curse / lie / accuse which are not right in God’s eyes. we move away from God to make us stand on our own to solve the problem. Whereas Bible advices us to be patient in the face of sufferings
James 5:10-11 NIV. Brothers and sisters, as an example of patience in the face of suffering, take the prophets who spoke in the name of the Lord. As you know, we count as blessed those who have persevered. You have heard of Job’s perseverance and have seen what the Lord finally brought about. The Lord is full of compassion and mercy.
We look at Job’s life to see how he was patient in suffering and how he accomplished this.
If patience is the sign of perfection, then words of patience become the crown of a perfect life.
Qualities of Job
Job 1:1 'In the land of Uz there lived a man whose name was Job. This man was blameless and upright; he feared God and shunned evil. '
He was blameless - "Blameless" typically refers to being free from blame or guilt
He was upright - “Upright” implies a sense of correctness, honesty, and integrity
He was God Fearing - Fear God in everything he did.
He was Righteous - ( English translation Shunned Evil)
Suffering of Job
We know the story of Job. He lost everything in quick succession leading to suffering
Job 1:13-19 'One day when Job’s sons and daughters were feasting and drinking wine at the oldest brother’s house, a messenger came to Job and said, “The oxen were plowing and the donkeys were grazing nearby, and the Sabeans attacked and made off with them. They put the servants to the sword, and I am the only one who has escaped to tell you!” While he was still speaking, another messenger came and said, “The fire of God fell from the heavens and burned up the sheep and the servants, and I am the only one who has escaped to tell you!” While he was still speaking, another messenger came and said, “The Chaldeans formed three raiding parties and swept down on your camels and made off with them. They put the servants to the sword, and I am the only one who has escaped to tell you!” While he was still speaking, yet another messenger came and said, “Your sons and daughters were feasting and drinking wine at the oldest brother’s house, when suddenly a mighty wind swept in from the desert and struck the four corners of the house. It collapsed on them and they are dead, and I am the only one who has escaped to tell you!” '
The losses of Job were by no means ordinary.
Death of his cattle, their caretakers and his children all one after another.
To worsen the situation he became sick with an abominable disease.
In order to escape the situation, his wife suggested to him, “Curse God and die!”
He was very rich and also blameless in sight of God, Jesus says it’s impossible for a rich to be blameless unless he is tied to him and his power over ruling the rich
Luke 18:25-27 NIV. “Indeed, it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for someone who is rich to enter the kingdom of God.” Those who heard this asked, “Who then can be saved?” Jesus replied, “What is impossible with man is possible with God.”“
So Job was blessed by God as the word says what’s impossible by man is possible by God.
Fear of the God is to be upright and blameless.That’s the key.
God blessed him for his reverent fear of God.
Satan gives a testimony of God’s blessings.
Job 1:9-10 “Does Job fear God for nothing?” Satan replied. “Have you not put a hedge around him and his household and everything he has? You have blessed the work of his hands, so that his flocks and herds are spread throughout the land.“
See Satan’s mentality, he says the fear of the Lord is because of the earthly blessing, whereas God says the opposite Job 1:1 “..This man was blameless and upright; he feared God and shunned evil”
Secondly he says God blessed the work of his hands. God did not make all come from no where, fear along with hard work earned the blessings for Job.
Job feared God and also saw his children to see if they would curse or do something against God in heart as well. So for him all he had (family and wealth) was from God
That’s why he was able to utter this word. As God was his source of righteousness and source of all his wealth
Praise in Suffering : Lessons for Us
Job 1:21 NIV ”and said: “Naked I came from my mother’s womb, and naked I will depart. The Lord gave and the Lord has taken away; may the name of the Lord be praised.”“
Interestingly he praised God when things were taken from him.
Praising God in the midst of suffering can come only if we believe God is the source of everything. God is the Author and finisher of things, he is the Alpha and the Omega, first and last - Revelation 22:13 'I am the Alpha and the Omega, the First and the Last, the Beginning and the End. '
Most of us don’t praise him as we don’t feel like Job. We feel what we have is our own work and not because of God. We pray , and think that as a result of our prayer we got all the blessings, we don’t feel that its God who is our source of all the blessings.
So when we loose we are upset to say we lost.
We are taught to be always thankful, no matter what happens good or bad - 1 Thessalonians 5:18 'give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus. '
We may not “feel” like praising God while we are crushed with pain and problems. It doesn’t matter, praise God anyway. Praise God to override your own self and praise him.
Praise him when you don’t feel like praising him, this praise will lead you to make you keep praising him from your heart.
As you continue to praise, the enemy’s hold over your situation is loosened, his plans get destroyed. It gives a hold to God to come and help solve the problem in the midst of suffering.
When you praise God a profound peace prevails, overshadowing any circumstance. It's like to being indoors during a heavy rainstorm, where despite the downpour outside, a serene calmness envelopes you, leaving you unaffected by the chaos beyond your shelter. That's the essence of that feeling.
Start looking at your situations ,good or bad and give praise to God, he will turn your sorrows into Joy.
Amen