Lessons from Job

While there are many lessons one could take from the Book of Job,1 I’m going to focus here on only one, which is this:

• We do not know what God knows or see what God sees (Isa 55:8–9; Rev 15:3; Psa 25:4; Pro 3:5; Rom 11:33); therefore, we will not always know why things happen the way they do here in this world. It may appear to us that God is not there, doesn’t care, isn’t listening, and isn’t helping us, but that is not what Scripture teaches.

Unfortunately, for our finite human minds (brains), the unknown can be a great source of anxiety, and not understanding the why of things only adds to that. Compounding things even more, we don’t know God’s timing regarding various matters either. Yet as a child trusts his parents (Mat 11:25–26; 18:3–4), we must completely “trust in the Lord”2 and also trust in “the word of God” (Heb 4:12),3, 4 knowing full well and deep down that all of God’s promises will come true and that every single syllable and word of Scripture is there for a purpose and will be fulfilled in some manner at some time.5 Realize that many of the OT saints didn’t live to see God’s promises to them fulfilled in their lifetimes (Heb 11:13), and yet they still trusted in the Lord. Let us do likewise.

Job gives us an example of steadfast faith and endurance under the harshest conditions imaginable, when all those around him turned on him and abandoned him, even accusing him of wrongdoing.6 Let us look to the shining example of Job and be encouraged, strengthened, and even emboldened to “fight the good fight of faith; take hold of the eternal life to which you were called, and … [make] the good confession in the presence of many witnesses” (1Ti 6:12), “press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus” (Php 3:14), and “be on the alert, stand firm in the faith, act like men, be strong” (1Co 16:13)—and all this not only for ourselves but also so we can help others around us and be an “example” (see Joh 13:15; 1Co 11:1; 4:16; 1Th 1:7; 1Ti 1:16; 4:12; Tit 2:7; 1Pe 2:21; 5:3; cf. Mat 5:13–16; 10:38; 2Co 5:20; Eph 5:1–2; 6:20; Rom 2:19; Php 1:27; 2:5, 15; 3:17; 1Th 1:6; 2Th 3:9; Heb 6:12; 12:1; 1Jn 2:6) of Christ to them, perhaps even in and through our suffering.

Such firm faith helps diminish and defeat anxiety when we are in difficult circumstances. I realize this is much easier to write than do, especially if we were ever to experience what Job had to endure. Nevertheless, we must do our best, and we must look to the Word of God for truth while living by the power and Spirit of God to guide and enable us.7 Each of us may experience a “testing of our faith” (see Jas 1:2–4; Rom 5:3–5; 1Pe 1:6–7; 1Co 16:13; cf. Php 4:13; 1Co 10:13; Isa 40:31; 48:10; Zec 13:9; Psa 66:10) like Job (to varying degrees). The question for us then is this: Will we pass that test? Scripture has given us all the tools we will need (the Word of God, the peace of God, the wisdom of God, the armor of God, prayer, etc.8), so that we can, in fact, “stand firm”9 in our faith, just like Job.

CHAPTER PRAYER

Most holy Father in heaven, hallowed be Thy great name. Thank You for the gift of Jesus on the cross and for the gift of today. Father, help me realize that I will not always understand Your ways and why things happen the way they do here in this fallen world. Please grant me enough wisdom to know what I need in order to keep moving forward in faith, just like Job did—never wavering or doubting You, Your love for me, Your lovingkindness toward me, Your will, or Your ways. As it is written in Your Word: The Lord is righteous in all of His ways and kind in all of His deeds. He is near to all who call on Him, to all who call on Him in truth. Amen.