Lessons from Job

I have often asked the question of why God allows good people to suffer. It is a hard thought to want to accept and know that there is reason within all suffering. Recently, I began studying the Book of Job. In the past, I have read through this book with a very surface-level understanding. Going through the current study, I have really dove deep into the true meaning of Job’s life. 

Job experienced much distress and suffering. When reading Job chapter 3, I felt the Lord speaking to me about how I tended to claim the victim during our losses, just as Job was talking about in chapter 3:20-26. Quite often I found myself thinking about how it was not fair that certain people were able to conceive and carry a child who did not want to become parents at that time and instead would continue a carefree and careless lifestyle. Job 3:26 states, “I have no peace, no quietness; I have no rest, but only turmoil”. This statement was so relatable to how I felt during those times. Can anyone else relate as well!?

Even though Job felt that way, he always knew that God was there for him and had bigger plans for him. The faith Job demonstrates throughout this entire book illuminates the strength that comes from having a relationship with God.  One thing stands true with Job though; he stays true to the Lord during all his trials and he continues to be sinless even through the challenges and accusations his “friends” are putting forth on him.

I am sure each one of us has someone in our lives that will always be there to help drag us down in every situation, just as Job’s friends have done to him. Job’s friends do not understand the struggles that he is going through, let alone understand how Job can stay strong and true to his faith during all these struggles. In 12:5, Job points out that those who are not struggling don’t seem to understand those who are. In fact, they often have contempt for them, not compassion. The definition of contempt, according to Merriam-Webster Dictionary, simply means that you despise or strongly disapprove of them. I found myself awe-struck by Job’s realization because that is exactly how I felt during times of my struggles, the feeling of contentment easily would creep up in my heart. Who am I to disapprove or despise someone because they are bringing a child into the world? This is just one way that the devil can creep into our lives without us really realizing it until his job is done. Looking back now, I wish I would have been more like Job during my struggles and showed compassion towards myself and others. 

Another lesson I have learned while reading this book was the difference between mercy and grace. Job 9:15 eludes to Job’s judgment for mercy when speaking about trying to understand why God is allowing him to go through his struggles. When diving into the meaning of mercy, I learned that mercy is something that we don’t get what we deserve. On the flip side, grace is what we get that we don’t deserve. See the difference here? In God’s mercy, he does not give us the punishment we deserve (hell for example), while in God’s grace, he gives us the gift we do not deserve (heaven for example). 

I would encourage you to dive into the book of Job when you are feeling the weakest and need some relatable guidance from an individual who has been given “hard luck” but who has left God in the center of his heart and has faith like no other! To sum it all up, I pray we are all able to show more compassion, less contempt, more faith, less doubt, recognize that there is a difference between mercy and grace, and to always stay true to yourself, your faith and God! 

XOXO

Megan