Job: 42:12,16-17 And the LORD blessed the latter days of Job more than his beginning…And after this Job lived a hundred and forty years, and saw his sons and his sons’ sons, four generations. And Job died, an old man, and full of days. [Revised Standard translation]
Summary
Roman 15:4 tells us:
For whatever was written in earlier times was written for our instruction, so that through perseverance and the encouragement of the Scriptures we might have hope.
New American Standard Bible translation. In other words, the WORD of GOD instructs us so that we can make it through the difficulties of life. One way that we learn to persevere and continue on is by learning from the example of others, people who “made it through” ----people who survived the trials and tribulations in their lives. These survivors’ stories often can be laid out in three acts: 1) A description of their life before the trial; 2) A description of the trials encountered and; 3) A description of how they made it through or what they were like afterward. Over the next few weeks, we will examine a few of these survivor stories. Today, we consider Job and what Job might say if he could speak today.
JOB
Life Before the Trial – I (Job) lived a rich and satisfying life. I had great wealth. Thousands of sheep and camels, hundreds of asses and oxen, a large household, and lots of children. (Job 1:3,4) I was one of the wealthiest men in the East. I feared GOD and stayed away from evil. (Job1:1). I offered sacrifices to GOD for my children, fearing they may have sinned. (Job1:5). My wife and I were what some might called “good people.” I was also GOD’s servant. (Job:8)
My Trials -My trials came in waves. In the first wave of my trials I lost everything I thought I possessed.” Like I said I had sheep, camels, donkeys and other possessions, which I managed expertly. But suddenly it was all gone. It vanished overnight. One servant reported a hostile tribe took my donkeys and attacked my workers. Another servant reported that fierce fire broke out (my servant called it “the fire of GOD) and all my sheep and servants taking care of them were consumed, except for the one servant who brought me the sad news. (Job 1:16). Before the first servant had even stopped talking another servant rushed in and delivered more bad news. All my camels were taken and the servants taking care of my camels killed too, except this single servant. The worse report of all was that another messenger told me all my children were dead. Yes, dead. What sounded like a desert tornado engulfed the house where they were feasting, collapsed all the walls and none of them escaped except this lone servant. (Job 1:18) It probably was one of the worse moments in my life. It was the worse news of all.
My second wave of trials came in the form of sickness and pain. I suddenly developed terrible boils from head to toe. (Job 2:7-8). I suffered greatly and probably smelled horrible. Even my wife, couldn’t stand to look at me. One day she told me to commit spiritual suicide! She advised me to just curse GOD, end my suffering and die. (Job2:9). My friends blamed me. They told me that I must have brought this upon myself and urged me to repent. (Job 13) My clothes were full and worms and dirt. (Job 9:28). They were no comfort at all.
The next trial was the day my spirit was broken. (Job 17) I pitied myself, I was falling apart, deteriorating and saw no hope in sight. Death was standing over me. I could feel the grave. I went to GOD and asked: “Why?” “Why GOD, Why?” Why is this happening to me!” It didn’t seem right. It doesn’t seem just. I talked and talked and talked to GOD but I received no clarity. I wanted to understand this. No, I demanded that GOD explain HIMSELF.
How I Got Through It
When I look back over everything that happened, I believe I got through my first wave of trials, losing all my possessions, because I realized that I really didn’t own any of those things. You see none of us come in the world with possessions and none of these things we possess can be carried away in death. We come in naked and we leave naked of our possessions. (Job1:22). We should be grateful to GOD for what we have, but if GOD takes them away since everything belongs to HIM, so be it…. [Eventually GOD gave me more. HE gave me more children. Although I didn’t know it at the time what GOD would do, when GOD blessed me again, I think I appreciated GOD’s GOODNESS more. Losing something, often makes you realize the value of what you had.] If Satan thought I worshipped the things I had, Satan was wrong. (See Job 1:8-11). I worship GOD, not things.
When the trials of my physical sickness and pain came, I still did not curse GOD. Again, Satan was wrong. My wife wanted me to curse GOD, but I knew that was just foolishness. I still worshipped GOD. Even when my friends, like Satan, wanted to use my sickness and pain against me, to separate me from GOD or in the case of my friend to say that GOD had separated HIMSELF from me, it didn’t happen. I still talked to GOD, I still believed in GOD, through it all. In fact, I was talking to GOD a lot during my trials and I just kept on talking with GOD.
The last thing about my trials I need to explain to you is that I learned from my trials and came out of it with a greater understanding of GOD and myself. In other words, I wasn’t meant to “get through” the trials, I was meant to “grow,” “get stronger,” to “still serve GOD in my trials.” Before my trials, I was GOD’s (comfortable) servant. But I had no understanding what it meant to be “GOD’s Suffering Servant,” In my trials GOD showed me that I had no real ability to understand how GOD does things, why GOD is doing things or how my suffering will help others or GLORIFY GOD. My vision is not GOD’s VISION, my mind is not GOD’s MIND. My role is just to serve, to have faith (i.e. to believe everything will be alright because GOD has DIVINE CONTROL even in the midst of my suffering. (Job 42:1-5). I surrendered to GOD and repented in the midst of my trials for not understanding the limits of my own existence or in the marvelous, incomprehensible ability of GOD to do anything. (Job 40:4) GOD increased my faith in the midst of my trial. I found peace of mind in my trial. And, GOD blessed me.
GETTING THROUGH AN EXERCISE ROUTINE
Kristin Vovino offers seven tips for getting through a tough workout:
- Focus On One Thing At A Time - For example, if you walk 5 miles and focus on how far that is the entire time you are walking, you will likely “mentally wear yourself out.” Instead, focus on one or two things---your breathing, your pace. Or just focus on the immediate task, just getting to the next block, the next stretch.
- Think Positive-Negative thoughts can change your entire outlook and attitude. If you can’t think positively at least try to keep it neutral. If you can’t envision your victory at the end of the race, just make it thought “one more hour,” rather than think “I can’t do this.
- Focus on How You Feel Not How You Look – For example if you are working out to “lose weight” or “change your body appearance” you may lose your motivation, get frustrated because you are not seeing body results as fast as you want to. Think about exercise as being a positive factor in how you feel (being more energized, feeling less stressed) than what you hope to look like.
- Set A Goal – If you set a time goal, you may be more likely to get it done. For example, if you know you need to be in physical shape by the time a race rolls around or you want to achieve 2 miles every other day by the 30th of next month you are likely to be more motivated than just saying you will eventually do it or get it done.
- Find Something You Love and Compete – Find time to find a sport, an event or activity you love. It will add more meaning to your workout.
- Find A Workout Friend – This can be someone who will call you up to report or make you accountable regarding your workout, a YouTube Workout or online virtual friend or someone in your household. Don’t let social distancing keep you from working out with friends.
- Treat Yourself – Set up mini-challenges during your workout and reward yourself. You may push yourself walking up a hill and then slow down for the next stretch on level ground as a reward. Or, stop and enjoy a view once you make it up a hill.
The idea is to keep yourself motivated to “Get Through it!” See, “7 Tips to Get Through That Tough Workout, by Kirsten Vovino, https://www.cheatsheet.com/life/7-tips-to-get-through-that-tough-workout.html//
GETTING STRONGER; GETTING THROUGH IT
GOD knows exactly what is happening. Whether it is lost employment, lost income, lost freedom of movement, family losses, loss of health, trying to get through a tough workout, trying to get through a tough week at home, or surviving what looks like a tough virus. GOD is still in control. Even in the midst of suffering, GOD knows, GOD cares, GOD is able and GOD will be victorious in the end, even if we don’t understand and victory may not be apparent.
This week many people around the world will be celebrating Passover, beginning tomorrow. Others this week will be remembering the Suffering Servant, described by Isaiah 53:7-12 and Luke 9:22, JESUS’ journey to the cross and victorious resurrection. Those celebrating Passover will remember how a people got through it. Those celebrating Good Friday and Resurrection will remember how JESUS took the sting out of death and was victorious and provided salvation for the world.
As we read, learn and remember, pray GOD gives us the peace of mind and faith to endure.
Pray, we learn the lessons of GOD’s WORD and BE BLESSED.
