Recently, I read a very
interesting and helpful book-- "21 Reasons Bad Things Happen to Good
People" by Dave Earley. I encourage you to purchase a copy of it and
read it in its entirety as there are many more great things in it that I
have had to leave out of this series. I would like to share some
thoughts from that book in a series of lessons to offer some insight
into the reasons God allows pain and suffering in our lives.
Last week's lesson was introductory material and in it we talked about 4 Important Truths regarding this topic of suffering.
1. God is under no obligation to give us an explanation for suffering.
2. God has given us plenty of explanation if we will only look for it and accept it.
3. God can do more than one good thing through the bad things that happen to us.
4. God knows what it is to suffer, and He knows how to help us in our suffering.
It's also very important to remember that just because we think we are a "good" person, doesn't mean we really are. Our "goodness" depends upon whether or not we are Christians, having been born again of water and Spirit, being washed in the blood of Christ and having God's Holy Spirit living in us.
Last week I also talked to you about one of the reasons bad things may happen to good people and then I listed for you 20 more of the possible reasons. Tonight, we will look at three of those reasons:
1. To win an unseen victory.
2. To expand our perspective of God.
3. To deepen our humility before God.
I asked each of you to read the first 2 chapters of the book of Job in order to prepare for tonight's lesson. I hope you've done this, but for those who didn't or weren't here last week, let's read them, they're not very long.
Job 1
Job’s Character and Wealth
1 There was a man in the land of Uz whose name was Job; and that man was blameless, upright, fearing God and turning away from evil. 2 Seven sons and three daughters were born to him. 3 His possessions also were 7,000 sheep, 3,000 camels, 500 yoke of oxen, 500 female donkeys, and very many servants; and that man was the greatest of all the men of the east. 4 His sons used to go and hold a feast in the house of each one on his day, and they would send and invite their three sisters to eat and drink with them. 5 When the days of feasting had completed their cycle, Job would send and consecrate them, rising up early in the morning and offering burnt offerings according to the number of them all; for Job said, “Perhaps my sons have sinned and cursed God in their hearts.” Thus Job did continually.
6 Now there was a day when the sons of God came to present themselves before the LORD, and Satan also came among them. 7 The LORD said to Satan, “From where do you come?” Then Satan answered the LORD and said, “From roaming about on the earth and walking around on it.” 8 The LORD said to Satan, “Have you considered My servant Job? For there is no one like him on the earth, a blameless and upright man, fearing God and turning away from evil.” 9 Then Satan answered the LORD, “Does Job fear God for nothing? 10 Have You not made a hedge about him and his house and all that he has, on every side? You have blessed the work of his hands, and his possessions have increased in the land. 11 But put forth Your hand now and touch all that he has; he will surely curse You to Your face.” 12 Then the LORD said to Satan, “Behold, all that he has is in your power, only do not put forth your hand on him.” So Satan departed from the presence of the LORD.
Satan Allowed to Test Job
13 Now on the day when his sons and his daughters were eating and drinking wine in their oldest brother’s house, 14 a messenger came to Job and said, “The oxen were plowing and the donkeys feeding beside them, 15 and the Sabeans attacked and took them. They also slew the servants with the edge of the sword, and I alone have escaped to tell you.” 16 While he was still speaking, another also came and said, “The fire of God fell from heaven and burned up the sheep and the servants and consumed them, and I alone have escaped to tell you.” 17 While he was still speaking, another also came and said, “The Chaldeans formed three bands and made a raid on the camels and took them and slew the servants with the edge of the sword, and I alone have escaped to tell you.” 18 While he was still speaking, another also came and said, “Your sons and your daughters were eating and drinking wine in their oldest brother’s house, 19 and behold, a great wind came from across the wilderness and struck the four corners of the house, and it fell on the young people and they died, and I alone have escaped to tell you.”
20 Then Job arose and tore his robe and shaved his head, and he fell to the ground and worshiped. 21 He said,
“Naked I came from my mother’s womb,
And naked I shall return there.
The LORD gave and the LORD has taken away.
Blessed be the name of the LORD.”
22 Through all this Job did not sin nor did he blame God.
Job 2
Job Loses His Health
1 Again there was a day when the sons of God came to present themselves before the LORD, and Satan also came among them to present himself before the LORD. 2 The LORD said to Satan, “Where have you come from?” Then Satan answered the LORD and said, “From roaming about on the earth and walking around on it.” 3 The LORD said to Satan, “Have you considered My servant Job? For there is no one like him on the earth, a blameless and upright man fearing God and turning away from evil. And he still holds fast his integrity, although you incited Me against him to ruin him without cause.” 4 Satan answered the LORD and said, “Skin for skin! Yes, all that a man has he will give for his life. 5 However, put forth Your hand now, and touch his bone and his flesh; he will curse You to Your face.” 6 So the LORD said to Satan, “Behold, he is in your power, only spare his life.”
7 Then Satan went out from the presence of the LORD and smote Job with sore boils from the sole of his foot to the crown of his head. 8 And he took a potsherd to scrape himself while he was sitting among the ashes. 9 Then his wife said to him, “Do you still hold fast your integrity? Curse God and die!” 10 But he said to her, “You speak as one of the foolish women speaks. Shall we indeed accept good from God and not accept adversity?” In all this Job did not sin with his lips.
11 Now when Job’s three friends heard of all this adversity that had come upon him, they came each one from his own place, Eliphaz the Temanite, Bildad the Shuhite and Zophar the Naamathite; and they made an appointment together to come to sympathize with him and comfort him. 12 When they lifted up their eyes at a distance and did not recognize him, they raised their voices and wept. And each of them tore his robe and they threw dust over their heads toward the sky. 13 Then they sat down on the ground with him for seven days and seven nights with no one speaking a word to him, for they saw that his pain was very great.
Several things are important for us to notice in this passage of scripture. But, mainly, we must understand that Satan was powerless to bring harm to Job. God gave Satan some power, but put limits on that power. We'll explore later the implications of the limitation of Satan's power as it concerns US today.
So. Why did God allow this suffering for Job?
1. To Win An Unseen Victory
With no warning, Job's family and fortune were swept away in a landslide of loss. In one day, his job, his employees, his property, his income, his retirement, and his lifework were all totally, terrifyingly taken away. All he had worked for, all he had dreamed of, all he had owned was gone. And then, it got worse. His physical body was wracked with excruciating boils from head to foot!
Why would a good God possibly allow one of His most faithful servants to suffer so unjustly? What was God thinking? Why didn't He protect Job? Why did He allow it to happen? What Job didn't know was God and Satan were locked in a cosmic battle for loyalty and allegiance, and often, WE are the battleground.
Let me stretch your thinking for just a few moments. This is an amazing thought. Maybe some of our suffering has little or nothing to do with us and everything to do with God's plan to silence Satan's pride, to shut Satan's mouth. Satan wants to be worshipped like God, but he knows he is not worth it. If his followers were put in the same position in which Job was placed, they would turn on him very quickly. Yet, when one of God's followers, Job, lost everything, he refused to turn. Instead, Job's response to suffering proved that he believed God to be worthy of worship. Job 2: 9 Then his wife said to him, “Do you still hold fast to your integrity? Curse God and die!” 10 But he said to her, “You speak as one of the foolish women speaks. Shall we indeed accept good from God, and shall we not accept adversity?” In all this Job did not sin with his lips.
God was worthy Job's faithfulness. And Satan was shut up. There are forty more chapters in the book of Job, and do you know how many times Satan is mentioned after chapter 2? None, nada, zero, zip! Why? Satan is no longer mentioned because Satan was thoroughly silenced by the stunning worthiness of God as seen in the extraordinary integrity of Job. He was faithful in spite of a heart broken by grief and a body broken by pain. Job did not realize it at the time, but he was winning an unseen victory.
So why do bad things happen to good people? What good can come from the bad? It could be that there is an unseen victory to be won. Maybe we don't realize it now, but we may be players in an unseen battle. Our response to suffering may give God greater glory and get Satan to shut up.
Are there any comments or questions about reason #1?
In the coming days, please continue to read the book of Job to help you understand the rest of this series of lessons. But, let's go on to the second reason God allows suffering.
2. To Expand Our Perspective of God
As you read the book of Job, you find that for 36 chapters (3-38) Job bemoaned his fate and defended himself again the criticisms of his self-righteous friends. For 36 chapters, he sought God for an explanation. For 36 chapters, possibly spanning months or even longer, God did not answer.
Although our suffering may not compare to Job's, it is just as real. We can understand some of the frustration Job felt as he looked up from the devastation that had been his life and cried out to God for an explanation yet heard nothing from God.
Job 7:20--"If I have sinned, what have I done to You, You who sees everything we do? Why have You made me Your target? Have I become a burden to You?"
Job 9:16--"Even if I summoned Him and He responded, I do not believe He would give me a hearing."
Job 9:32-33-- “He is not a mere mortal like me that I might answer Him, that we might confront each other in court. 33 If only there were someone to mediate between us,
someone to bring us together"
Job 10:2-- "I say to God: Do not declare me guilty, but tell me what charges You have against me."
Finally in chapter 38, God miraculously stepped to the stage. The Lord honored Job by addressing him from out of a storm. But instead of giving Job answers, the Lord took Job on a tour of creation. Instead of answering Job's questions, the Lord grilled Job with a flurry of rhetorical questions revealing the immense gulf between God, the infinite Creator, and Job, the insignificant creation. The entire scene is designed to put the matter of Job's suffering and loss into a much, much bigger perspective.
Listen to how God puts Job in his place :
1 Then the Lord answered Job from the whirlwind:
2 “Who is this that questions my wisdom with such ignorant words?
3 Brace yourself like a man, because I have some questions for you, and you must answer them.
4 “Where were you when I laid the foundations of the earth? Tell me, if you know so much.
5 Who determined its dimension and stretched out the surveying line?
6 What supports its foundations, and who laid its cornerstone 7 as the morning stars sang together and all the angels shouted for joy?
8 “Who kept the sea inside its boundaries as it burst from the womb, 9 and as I clothed it with clouds and wrapped it in thick darkness?
10 For I locked it behind barred gates, limiting its shores.
11 I said, ‘This far and no farther will you come. Here your proud waves must stop!’
16 “Have you explored the springs from which the seas come? Have you explored their depths?
17 Do you know where the gates of death are located? Have you seen the gates of utter gloom?
18 Do you realize the extent of the earth? Tell me about it if you know!
19 “Where does light come from, and where does darkness go?
20 Can you take each to its home? Do you know how to get there?
21 But of course you know all this! For you were born before it was all created, and you are so very experienced!
God goes on and on, showing Job just how insignificant he is compared to God.
Through his loss and grief, Job came to a much deeper realization of the immense and sovereign personhood of God. Job 42:1-2-- "1 Then Job replied to the LORD: 2 “I know that you can do all things; no purpose of yours can be thwarted." Note the conviction in Job's voice. He now "knew" that God can do all things. He understood that God is, well, God, and is answerable to no man. No one can be higher than the Highest or mightier than the Almighty. The Lord is so exceedingly before, above, and beyond humanity that it is ridiculous to think we could possibly pull Him down to our level by demanding answers, reasons, and explanations. God does not have to explain Himself to us or anyone else. He owes us no answers He can and will do what He deems right.
God may be doing things that are bigger than we can imagine and, as in the case of Job, our suffering may be part of something much bigger than we are. Possessing a bigger, more accurate view of God is a very valuable gift. To our detriment, we easily forget how infinitely big, intelligent, powerful, and good is our God.
One of the many good things that can come from very bad things is a clearer, bigger perspective. More important than knowing exactly why we are suffering is the knowledge gained of God through our suffering. More significant than receiving an explanation for our pain is embracing a bigger view of God through our pain. Allow your questions, doubts, and pain to press you closer to God than ever before.
Let's pause for any comments or questions about reason #2.
3. To Deepen Our Humility Before God.
Job was the richest, most highly esteemed man around--until adversity hit. His entire life's work was gone in a day. His income, job, career, and retirement were wiped out in a few dreadful hours. His prestige was removed. Instead of being honored by those he had never even met, he was mocked by strangers. Instead of being envied and feared, he was scorned.
Job believed he could endure all of that if only God would give him an audience, if only he could defend himself before the Almighty. Yet, when it finally happened, it did not turn out as he hoped. Instead of impressing God with the justice of his cause, Job was left dumbfounded by the immense power and sovereign authority of the Creator and God of the universe. Job felt stupid for even imagining that he could somehow straighten God out and show Him a thing or two (Job 42:1-6). Nevertheless, good came from the bad.
One sweet fruit of Job's heinous suffering was the flower of deeper humility blooming more brightly in his life. His testimony is that the experience left him a changed man. Instead of being the one with all the answers, he had nothing much to say.
Adversity has a way of reminding us that we are not the center of the universe. Pain has the power to point out our insufficiency. It reminds us, often brutally, of our naked insecurity, broken vulnerability, often overlooked mortality, and immense dependency. It forces us to depend on others and turn to God. When suffering has thrown us flat on our back and we have nowhere to look but up, it is only then that we truly see God.
So why does a good God allow bad things to happen to good people? Often it is to bring us to a deeper level of humility. Humility is a virtue that opens the door to many true blessings and is a place where God can meet us. Allow the suffering you are experiencing to produce a deeper level of humility in your life.
Does anyone have comments or questions about reason #3 ?
Last week's lesson was introductory material and in it we talked about 4 Important Truths regarding this topic of suffering.
1. God is under no obligation to give us an explanation for suffering.
2. God has given us plenty of explanation if we will only look for it and accept it.
3. God can do more than one good thing through the bad things that happen to us.
4. God knows what it is to suffer, and He knows how to help us in our suffering.
It's also very important to remember that just because we think we are a "good" person, doesn't mean we really are. Our "goodness" depends upon whether or not we are Christians, having been born again of water and Spirit, being washed in the blood of Christ and having God's Holy Spirit living in us.
Last week I also talked to you about one of the reasons bad things may happen to good people and then I listed for you 20 more of the possible reasons. Tonight, we will look at three of those reasons:
1. To win an unseen victory.
2. To expand our perspective of God.
3. To deepen our humility before God.
I asked each of you to read the first 2 chapters of the book of Job in order to prepare for tonight's lesson. I hope you've done this, but for those who didn't or weren't here last week, let's read them, they're not very long.
Job 1
Job’s Character and Wealth
1 There was a man in the land of Uz whose name was Job; and that man was blameless, upright, fearing God and turning away from evil. 2 Seven sons and three daughters were born to him. 3 His possessions also were 7,000 sheep, 3,000 camels, 500 yoke of oxen, 500 female donkeys, and very many servants; and that man was the greatest of all the men of the east. 4 His sons used to go and hold a feast in the house of each one on his day, and they would send and invite their three sisters to eat and drink with them. 5 When the days of feasting had completed their cycle, Job would send and consecrate them, rising up early in the morning and offering burnt offerings according to the number of them all; for Job said, “Perhaps my sons have sinned and cursed God in their hearts.” Thus Job did continually.
6 Now there was a day when the sons of God came to present themselves before the LORD, and Satan also came among them. 7 The LORD said to Satan, “From where do you come?” Then Satan answered the LORD and said, “From roaming about on the earth and walking around on it.” 8 The LORD said to Satan, “Have you considered My servant Job? For there is no one like him on the earth, a blameless and upright man, fearing God and turning away from evil.” 9 Then Satan answered the LORD, “Does Job fear God for nothing? 10 Have You not made a hedge about him and his house and all that he has, on every side? You have blessed the work of his hands, and his possessions have increased in the land. 11 But put forth Your hand now and touch all that he has; he will surely curse You to Your face.” 12 Then the LORD said to Satan, “Behold, all that he has is in your power, only do not put forth your hand on him.” So Satan departed from the presence of the LORD.
Satan Allowed to Test Job
13 Now on the day when his sons and his daughters were eating and drinking wine in their oldest brother’s house, 14 a messenger came to Job and said, “The oxen were plowing and the donkeys feeding beside them, 15 and the Sabeans attacked and took them. They also slew the servants with the edge of the sword, and I alone have escaped to tell you.” 16 While he was still speaking, another also came and said, “The fire of God fell from heaven and burned up the sheep and the servants and consumed them, and I alone have escaped to tell you.” 17 While he was still speaking, another also came and said, “The Chaldeans formed three bands and made a raid on the camels and took them and slew the servants with the edge of the sword, and I alone have escaped to tell you.” 18 While he was still speaking, another also came and said, “Your sons and your daughters were eating and drinking wine in their oldest brother’s house, 19 and behold, a great wind came from across the wilderness and struck the four corners of the house, and it fell on the young people and they died, and I alone have escaped to tell you.”
20 Then Job arose and tore his robe and shaved his head, and he fell to the ground and worshiped. 21 He said,
“Naked I came from my mother’s womb,
And naked I shall return there.
The LORD gave and the LORD has taken away.
Blessed be the name of the LORD.”
22 Through all this Job did not sin nor did he blame God.
Job 2
Job Loses His Health
1 Again there was a day when the sons of God came to present themselves before the LORD, and Satan also came among them to present himself before the LORD. 2 The LORD said to Satan, “Where have you come from?” Then Satan answered the LORD and said, “From roaming about on the earth and walking around on it.” 3 The LORD said to Satan, “Have you considered My servant Job? For there is no one like him on the earth, a blameless and upright man fearing God and turning away from evil. And he still holds fast his integrity, although you incited Me against him to ruin him without cause.” 4 Satan answered the LORD and said, “Skin for skin! Yes, all that a man has he will give for his life. 5 However, put forth Your hand now, and touch his bone and his flesh; he will curse You to Your face.” 6 So the LORD said to Satan, “Behold, he is in your power, only spare his life.”
7 Then Satan went out from the presence of the LORD and smote Job with sore boils from the sole of his foot to the crown of his head. 8 And he took a potsherd to scrape himself while he was sitting among the ashes. 9 Then his wife said to him, “Do you still hold fast your integrity? Curse God and die!” 10 But he said to her, “You speak as one of the foolish women speaks. Shall we indeed accept good from God and not accept adversity?” In all this Job did not sin with his lips.
11 Now when Job’s three friends heard of all this adversity that had come upon him, they came each one from his own place, Eliphaz the Temanite, Bildad the Shuhite and Zophar the Naamathite; and they made an appointment together to come to sympathize with him and comfort him. 12 When they lifted up their eyes at a distance and did not recognize him, they raised their voices and wept. And each of them tore his robe and they threw dust over their heads toward the sky. 13 Then they sat down on the ground with him for seven days and seven nights with no one speaking a word to him, for they saw that his pain was very great.
Several things are important for us to notice in this passage of scripture. But, mainly, we must understand that Satan was powerless to bring harm to Job. God gave Satan some power, but put limits on that power. We'll explore later the implications of the limitation of Satan's power as it concerns US today.
So. Why did God allow this suffering for Job?
1. To Win An Unseen Victory
With no warning, Job's family and fortune were swept away in a landslide of loss. In one day, his job, his employees, his property, his income, his retirement, and his lifework were all totally, terrifyingly taken away. All he had worked for, all he had dreamed of, all he had owned was gone. And then, it got worse. His physical body was wracked with excruciating boils from head to foot!
Why would a good God possibly allow one of His most faithful servants to suffer so unjustly? What was God thinking? Why didn't He protect Job? Why did He allow it to happen? What Job didn't know was God and Satan were locked in a cosmic battle for loyalty and allegiance, and often, WE are the battleground.
Let me stretch your thinking for just a few moments. This is an amazing thought. Maybe some of our suffering has little or nothing to do with us and everything to do with God's plan to silence Satan's pride, to shut Satan's mouth. Satan wants to be worshipped like God, but he knows he is not worth it. If his followers were put in the same position in which Job was placed, they would turn on him very quickly. Yet, when one of God's followers, Job, lost everything, he refused to turn. Instead, Job's response to suffering proved that he believed God to be worthy of worship. Job 2: 9 Then his wife said to him, “Do you still hold fast to your integrity? Curse God and die!” 10 But he said to her, “You speak as one of the foolish women speaks. Shall we indeed accept good from God, and shall we not accept adversity?” In all this Job did not sin with his lips.
God was worthy Job's faithfulness. And Satan was shut up. There are forty more chapters in the book of Job, and do you know how many times Satan is mentioned after chapter 2? None, nada, zero, zip! Why? Satan is no longer mentioned because Satan was thoroughly silenced by the stunning worthiness of God as seen in the extraordinary integrity of Job. He was faithful in spite of a heart broken by grief and a body broken by pain. Job did not realize it at the time, but he was winning an unseen victory.
So why do bad things happen to good people? What good can come from the bad? It could be that there is an unseen victory to be won. Maybe we don't realize it now, but we may be players in an unseen battle. Our response to suffering may give God greater glory and get Satan to shut up.
Are there any comments or questions about reason #1?
In the coming days, please continue to read the book of Job to help you understand the rest of this series of lessons. But, let's go on to the second reason God allows suffering.
2. To Expand Our Perspective of God
As you read the book of Job, you find that for 36 chapters (3-38) Job bemoaned his fate and defended himself again the criticisms of his self-righteous friends. For 36 chapters, he sought God for an explanation. For 36 chapters, possibly spanning months or even longer, God did not answer.
Although our suffering may not compare to Job's, it is just as real. We can understand some of the frustration Job felt as he looked up from the devastation that had been his life and cried out to God for an explanation yet heard nothing from God.
Job 7:20--"If I have sinned, what have I done to You, You who sees everything we do? Why have You made me Your target? Have I become a burden to You?"
Job 9:16--"Even if I summoned Him and He responded, I do not believe He would give me a hearing."
Job 9:32-33-- “He is not a mere mortal like me that I might answer Him, that we might confront each other in court. 33 If only there were someone to mediate between us,
someone to bring us together"
Job 10:2-- "I say to God: Do not declare me guilty, but tell me what charges You have against me."
Finally in chapter 38, God miraculously stepped to the stage. The Lord honored Job by addressing him from out of a storm. But instead of giving Job answers, the Lord took Job on a tour of creation. Instead of answering Job's questions, the Lord grilled Job with a flurry of rhetorical questions revealing the immense gulf between God, the infinite Creator, and Job, the insignificant creation. The entire scene is designed to put the matter of Job's suffering and loss into a much, much bigger perspective.
Listen to how God puts Job in his place :
1 Then the Lord answered Job from the whirlwind:
2 “Who is this that questions my wisdom with such ignorant words?
3 Brace yourself like a man, because I have some questions for you, and you must answer them.
4 “Where were you when I laid the foundations of the earth? Tell me, if you know so much.
5 Who determined its dimension and stretched out the surveying line?
6 What supports its foundations, and who laid its cornerstone 7 as the morning stars sang together and all the angels shouted for joy?
8 “Who kept the sea inside its boundaries as it burst from the womb, 9 and as I clothed it with clouds and wrapped it in thick darkness?
10 For I locked it behind barred gates, limiting its shores.
11 I said, ‘This far and no farther will you come. Here your proud waves must stop!’
16 “Have you explored the springs from which the seas come? Have you explored their depths?
17 Do you know where the gates of death are located? Have you seen the gates of utter gloom?
18 Do you realize the extent of the earth? Tell me about it if you know!
19 “Where does light come from, and where does darkness go?
20 Can you take each to its home? Do you know how to get there?
21 But of course you know all this! For you were born before it was all created, and you are so very experienced!
God goes on and on, showing Job just how insignificant he is compared to God.
Through his loss and grief, Job came to a much deeper realization of the immense and sovereign personhood of God. Job 42:1-2-- "1 Then Job replied to the LORD: 2 “I know that you can do all things; no purpose of yours can be thwarted." Note the conviction in Job's voice. He now "knew" that God can do all things. He understood that God is, well, God, and is answerable to no man. No one can be higher than the Highest or mightier than the Almighty. The Lord is so exceedingly before, above, and beyond humanity that it is ridiculous to think we could possibly pull Him down to our level by demanding answers, reasons, and explanations. God does not have to explain Himself to us or anyone else. He owes us no answers He can and will do what He deems right.
God may be doing things that are bigger than we can imagine and, as in the case of Job, our suffering may be part of something much bigger than we are. Possessing a bigger, more accurate view of God is a very valuable gift. To our detriment, we easily forget how infinitely big, intelligent, powerful, and good is our God.
One of the many good things that can come from very bad things is a clearer, bigger perspective. More important than knowing exactly why we are suffering is the knowledge gained of God through our suffering. More significant than receiving an explanation for our pain is embracing a bigger view of God through our pain. Allow your questions, doubts, and pain to press you closer to God than ever before.
Let's pause for any comments or questions about reason #2.
3. To Deepen Our Humility Before God.
Job was the richest, most highly esteemed man around--until adversity hit. His entire life's work was gone in a day. His income, job, career, and retirement were wiped out in a few dreadful hours. His prestige was removed. Instead of being honored by those he had never even met, he was mocked by strangers. Instead of being envied and feared, he was scorned.
Job believed he could endure all of that if only God would give him an audience, if only he could defend himself before the Almighty. Yet, when it finally happened, it did not turn out as he hoped. Instead of impressing God with the justice of his cause, Job was left dumbfounded by the immense power and sovereign authority of the Creator and God of the universe. Job felt stupid for even imagining that he could somehow straighten God out and show Him a thing or two (Job 42:1-6). Nevertheless, good came from the bad.
One sweet fruit of Job's heinous suffering was the flower of deeper humility blooming more brightly in his life. His testimony is that the experience left him a changed man. Instead of being the one with all the answers, he had nothing much to say.
Adversity has a way of reminding us that we are not the center of the universe. Pain has the power to point out our insufficiency. It reminds us, often brutally, of our naked insecurity, broken vulnerability, often overlooked mortality, and immense dependency. It forces us to depend on others and turn to God. When suffering has thrown us flat on our back and we have nowhere to look but up, it is only then that we truly see God.
So why does a good God allow bad things to happen to good people? Often it is to bring us to a deeper level of humility. Humility is a virtue that opens the door to many true blessings and is a place where God can meet us. Allow the suffering you are experiencing to produce a deeper level of humility in your life.
Does anyone have comments or questions about reason #3 ?
1 comment:
Thank you for that enlightened view on suffering. I have read Job several times and I love Job with a passion. I cannot say as he did " I worship you through the bad" in fact I have blamed God prior to knowing Jesus for all that was and went wrong in my life. I know different now, but it is good to be reminded again and again how Great our God is and how infinetly small we are compared to him
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