CONFESSING WEARINESS OF THE SOUL CAN BRING RENEWED HOPE
- Key Verse
"You gave me life and showed me kindness, and in your providence watched over my spirit." (Job 10:12)
In spite of Job's acknowledgment that he is full of confusion, he comforts himself with the certainty that he is in the hand of God and under His sovereign plan. He sees God not only as his Creator, but describes his total dependence upon Him as the one who upholds his very being.
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Central Truth
When life is full of difficult, painful heartache and grief, we often just want to vent or complain that God doesn't understand how "unfair" it feels. Providentially, He already knows, giving us permission to talk to Him about our deepest hurt with assurance He hasn't quit caring or abandoned us.
Reflections
Job expresses to God his weariness of life's bitterness and hardships. He asks the eternal question, "How could God allow such affliction on someone who has loved Him and faithfully obeyed His commandments?"During my junior year in college, my family fell into the "black hole of trauma" when my 18-month old sister died. In spite of much prayer and medical intervention, the Lord allowed her to go home to be with Him. The overwhelming pain surpassed my mind's capacity to grasp some sense or meaning out of it all. It truly was that "Dark Night of the Soul" where I lost comfort in my earlier, immature understanding of God. I blamed myself for the inability to prevent her death and struggled to trust God who had allowed it to happen. Dominating my thoughts for years was "Why?" If I could just understand "why," then perhaps I could deal with the pain. The answers never came.
Job had similar questions that also remained a mystery to him. This chapter encourages us to ask God the tough questions with the deepest groaning of our soul. Yet His clear answers are not given this side of heaven. Can I trust His love and grace to be sufficient when those unimaginable trials come, when it's certain they will come? My answer is, "Yes!"
I learned that you don't overcome a tragedy; you grow through it. Maturity was found not in overcoming or understanding "why," but in learning to live with the unveiling story of my life -- one chapter at a time. The final chapter has yet to be written. I have learned that some forms of suffering are not directly related to personal sin. Tragedy and loss force us to face our human limitations and learn to trust God's goodness. Foundational to that understanding is trusting in His Word and the truth that, "God so loved the world that He gave His only Son." I am loved! The ultimate fruit of that understanding makes the difference in whether our painful experiences in life lead us into hope or into despair.
Discussion Questions
1. When difficult and trying times occur in your life, how important is it to get an answer to "Why?"2. Was your faith strengthened or weakened during a major trial? How?
3. Do you think most tragedy or loss is the result of personal sin?
4. When life feels unpredictably uncertain or dangerous, how difficult is it for you to trust in God's goodness?
Comments
The views expressed under “Comments” are solely
those of the author and do not necessarily reflect those of Hill Country Bible Church NW.
Chip Smith
March 12, 2010 06:19 AM
Good words of wisdom today, Jean. Especially your statement that you don't overcome a tragedy, you grow through it. Wow! How true that is. As I look back at the tragic losses in my life, I am amazed at the growth it has caused in me. Those times drove me to my knees and into the word of God to try and find answers to "Why?" The result was a strengthening of my relationship with God and a deeper understanding of His word even when I did not always get my answer to "Why?" Thank you for a great log this morning.
Mark Sutton
March 12, 2010 07:01 AM
Jean, Thanks for the devotion. God truly does love me and draws me to him in hard times. What I am learning though this time in my life is He is always there for me no matter the circumstance. You wrote we may not receive an answer from the Lord now. I think these "whys" often are to be understood later. I can't help but think of the wonder when I get to heaven and am shown that some of the circumstances were allowed into my life were for His glory. Mark
Robert Powell
March 12, 2010 07:18 AM
Thanks Jean. When I see all the chaos in our country and world, I say, "Lord, what are you thinking?" I too ask, "why;" but am reminded through His word that this is part of His plan. You and Ron have been corner stones of HCBC. I remember being the "fly-on-the-wall" watching Ron serve selflessly behind the scenes - doing tasks that never drew attention to himself. God bless you!
Julia
March 12, 2010 07:18 AM
Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies and God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our affliction so that we will be able to comfort those who are in any affliction with the comfort with which we ourselves are comforted by God. For just as the sufferings of Christ are ours in abundance, so also our comfort is abundant through Christ. But if we are afflicted, it is for your comfort and salvation; or if we are comforted, it is for your comfort, which is effective in the patient enduring of the same sufferings which we also suffer; and our hope for you is firmly grounded, knowing that as you are sharers of our sufferings, so also you are sharers of our comfort. 2 Cor. 1: 3-7 Thank you for stating the often-overlooked truth that not all suffering is related to personal sin. Failure to see and understand this has greatly increased the suffering of saints for whom the Lord died.
Nancy Talbot
March 12, 2010 07:29 AM
Hi Jean, thought of you all day yesterday remembering it to be the 4th anniversary of Ron's passing to heaven. I've shared your ABC's of healthy grieving you wrote with several people along our same journey of healing. Blessings to you
Cindy S Brown
March 12, 2010 08:29 AM
Jean, thank you for speaking out that the "why" never came in answer to your baby sister's death. I am presently struggling with a personal growth issue and I am allowing myself to be "stuck" trying to figure out why I have this issue. Waiting for the "why" is actually providing me with the excuse I'm using to avoid growth and victory in this area of my life. You've reminded me I need to move forward and take the steps needed to gain victory in this area and change my behavior, whether I know " why" or not. Maybe I'll learn why I struggle with this issue; but maybe I won't. Growth and healing is still possible! Praise God!
Laurie Carlson
March 12, 2010 08:34 AM
Thank you Jean, your sweet devotion and your grace filled life are evidence of God working in you, I know you have not chosen to walk this path, but you give glory to our Heavenly Father with each day despite the circumstances. Some days, all we can do is harken back to our early Sunday School days and sing the song of reminder, "Jesus loves me, this I know!"
Judy Miller
March 12, 2010 09:07 AM
Wow Jean, that was profound. I'll certainly remember the statement "you don't overcome a tragedy, you learn to grow through it." You are a living example of that as I have interacted in your life for many years and seen you turn again and again to the Scriptures seeking God. It is all about learning to trust and depend God no matter what the circumstances.
sol skaff
March 12, 2010 09:16 AM
Thank you for sharing your heart on this Jean. Your personal experience adds integrity to this devotional that few could match, and I think the sentiment you expressed is right on target. "Growing through" trauma is no fun to say the least, but it does produce fruit if we lean into God through it. What a painful yet vital truth we will all face sooner or later. Thanks again - Sol
Randy Allen
March 12, 2010 09:21 AM
What wisdom: "I learned that you don't overcome a tragedy; you grow through it." Thank you so much. Randy
sara
March 12, 2010 10:05 AM
I love your statement, I learned that you don't overcome a tragedy; you grow through it. We want to put a deadline on people that have suffered whether thru sin or tragedy and Ive come to realize that you simply cannot. It becomes a process of new life, maturity, and dependency on God for those unanswered questions. Thank you for your expression of honesty today!
Dick Miller
March 12, 2010 11:13 AM
Jean, you are the "beloved" to God and those of us who have the privilege of knowing and being in community with you. Thanks for your encouraging words spoken from your experience of walking with the Lord.
Lisa Shaw
March 12, 2010 03:29 PM
Jean - Even though it's late in the day and I'm just now reading today's devotion, I appreciate what you wrote: "... His clear answers are not given this side of heaven." That pretty much sums it up for me!!!
Casey
March 12, 2010 08:00 PM
Thank you for blessing me (as usual). You are an amazing woman, mentor and friend.
Austin
March 14, 2010 06:25 PM
Jean, Thanks for sharing, I have shared this with my close friends and colleagues. You are an amazing woman, thanks so much! =) Ausitn
Julie Winton
April 20, 2010 11:22 AM
You bless me friend! Thank you for the words of wisdom. I love you, jul