Job suffered for me?

God May Allow Trials for a Purpose

Have you ever been going through a trial and thought, “Why is this happening? What have I done to deserve this?”

I think we all have felt like this. Some of us, many times.

Well, considering the story of Job and what was allowed to happen to him…..the loss of all of his property, his employees, his 10 children….we can see that none of these tragic things happened to Job without God’s knowledge. God was well aware of it. Actually, he gave Satan permission to attack Job within these boundaries.

Job 1:12 And the LORD said to Satan, “Behold, all that he has is in your power; only do not lay a hand on his person.”

So, after reading this, one may wonder why God would authorize abuse like this on someone so faithful to Him.

Job 1:2 There was a man in the land of Uz, whose name was Job; and that man was blameless and upright, and one who feared God and shunned evil.

We Must Always Trust God

During his trial, Job didn’t forget Who God Is. Nothing had changed for Job in that respect. His trust in God was rock solid.

Job 1:21 And he said: “Naked I came from my mother’s womb, And naked shall I return there. The LORD gave, and the LORD has taken away; Blessed be the name of the LORD.”

Job knew God hadn't abandoned him. Job knew God wasn’t punishing him. Sometimes we can’t see why something is allowed to happen. We don’t get to see behind the scenes. Job didn’t either. Job wasn’t invited to the meeting that took place in heaven between God and Satan.

Job 1:6 Now there was a day when the sons of God came to present themselves before the LORD, and Satan also came among them.

We Don’t See The Big Picture

Job didn’t hear how pleased God was with him. How God was praising him.

Job 1:8     Then the LORD said to Satan, “Have you considered My servant Job, that there is none like him on the earth, a blameless and upright man, one who fears God and shuns evil?”

Job didn’t understand that Satan was convinced that he could cause him to “curse God and die”.

Job 1:11 “But now, stretch out Your hand and touch all that he has, and he will surely curse You to Your face!”

When we are in the midst of our trials, maybe we should consider the story of Job. Read the story again. You can feel his anguish, his desperation, his agony. No, of course Job isn’t the only one who has experienced a life-altering loss. Losses. But I do think he has most people beat.

What We Can Learn From Job

Do you think that maybe one of the reasons God allowed poor Job to suffer was so that we could understand how much He is actually involved in our lives, even during the times we may feel He is far away? For us to comprehend the power and might and authority He has? And that no matter what unbelievably painful, difficult trial we may be enduring, we can look to Job and see that if he could still praise God and regard his own life as a gift and something borrowed, then there’s probably something there for us to learn. He still regarded His Creator as greater than the trial. He still trusted. Even though he couldn’t fully understand.

Just like we usually can’t understand.

James 1:2-4 My brethren, count it all joy when you fall into various trials, knowing that the testing of your faith produces patience. But let patience have its perfect work, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking nothing.

See, God has reasons for allowing our trials. They benefit us, spiritually. They help us grow, spiritually. God’s concern for us is not so much the things of this life, although he does care about our wellbeing , but His eyes are on our end result. “In God’s image”. Again, but this time, completely in God’s image. A perfect work. Perfect. Complete. Lacking nothing.

For the amazing future our Father has planned for us, we must submit to Him entirely. We can’t take the good only and reject the bad of life. Both are required to shape us and refine us into what we must become, to give us the character of God, and to prepare us for what great things our Father has in store.