Hopelessness, Suffering, and Unjust Loss - Part 2
“That man was blameless and upright, one who feared God and turned away from evil.”—Job 1:1 (NRSV)
This first verse of the book of Job should put an end to any ideas that crisis and trauma happen to us because we have done bad things. The fact that we have suffered great pain and loss does not automatically point to “sin in our lives.” God makes a point here to declare that this man, Job, who is about to have his life turned upside down with overwhelming grief, is a blameless, upright man who lives in harmony with God. His life is beyond reproach. Sin was not the cause of Job’s trouble.
Take comfort in this assurance, that just because you experience great pain and loss, it does not mean that God is angry with you! It does not mean that you are being punished! God loves you so much that He intentionally chose to record this story of a man who suffered blamelessly, so that you would see that suffering is not a sign that God is punishing you! God does not want you to be burdened with guilt, thinking you are to blame for all of your sufferings. He does not want you to feel condemned!
When we experience great pain and suffering, we may wonder if God is punishing us. That is what Jesus’ disciples thought when they encountered the man who was born blind.
“Jesus’ followers asked him, ‘Teacher, why was this man born blind? Whose sin made it happen? Was it his own sin or that of his parents?’”—John 9:2 (ERV)
Jesus immediately corrected this false idea that this man was blind because God was punishing him!
“Jesus answered, ‘It was not any sin of this man or his parents that caused him to be blind. He was born blind so that he could be used to show what great things God can do.’”—John 9:3 (ERV)
As if to emphasize this truth, Jesus immediately healed this man so that he could finally see clearly for the first time in his life!
Jesus emphasized this truth again in Luke 13, exposing and tearing down the false belief that greater suffering indicates greater sin. Instead, He shifted the focus of His disciples from that false belief that “suffering is a sign of sin” to what should be a very real concern for each of them—their own eternal safety from a much greater tragedy.
“Just at that time there [arrived] some people who informed Jesus about the Galileans whose blood Pilate had mixed with their sacrifices.
**“And He replied by saying to them, Do you think that these Galileans were greater sinners than all the other Galileans because they have suffered in this way? I tell you, No; but unless you repent (change your mind for the better and heartily amend your ways, with abhorrence of your past sins), you will all likewise perish and be lost eternally. **
“Or those eighteen on whom the tower in Siloam fell and killed them—do you think that they were more guilty offenders (debtors) than all the others who dwelt in Jerusalem? I tell you, No; but unless you repent (change your mind for the better and heartily amend your ways, with abhorrence of your past sins), you will all likewise perish and be lost eternally.”—Luke 13:1–5 (AMP)
It is so easy in the midst of tragedy and suffering to focus on the immediate crisis, in fact it’s hard to escape it, but ultimate triumph over suffering and tragedy can only be achieved with a focus on life beyond the tragedy. You must have a reason for living that is beyond the immediate crisis. You must focus on that. Hope will sustain you and give you a reason for hanging on one more day. Hope comes with having something worth living for beyond the immediate crisis. Get that firmly in your mind. Focus on that. That will sustain you through your suffering.
Ultimately, there will be a judgment for all of us. We must all live with that in mind. Regardless of the death, sorrow, and destruction that may come into our lives, we will have to answer for how we lived our lives. Live so that you have nothing to be ashamed of when you stand before that Great Judge.
“Don’t be afraid of those who want to kill your body; they cannot touch your soul. Fear only God, who can destroy both soul and body in hell.”—Matthew 10:27-29 (NLT)
Crisis is Not Experienced in a Vacuum
“Job had seven sons and three daughters.”—Job 1:2 (NIRV)
Crisis and trauma are not experienced in isolation. We are connected to each other through relationship. Even in situations where only one person has the experience that causes trauma and crisis, whole families—and relationships beyond the families—are affected. Tremors and aftershocks are felt throughout the network of our relationships. God knows this more than any of us. He understands the effects of trauma and devastating loss upon all of our relationships. This verse was not just a passing comment that mentioned Job’s children. They will be directly affected.
If you have suffered pain and loss, all those who are in relationship with you will be affected. The closer your relationship, and the greater the pain, the deeper the impact will be upon them.
“And if one member suffers, all the members suffer with it”—1 Corinthians 12:26 (NASB)
No One is Immune from Crises
“He had seven thousand sheep, three thousand camels, five hundred yoke of oxen, five hundred donkeys, and very many servants; so that this man was the greatest of all the people of the east.”—Job 1:3 (NRSV)
If anyone should have been insulated from disaster and devastation, it should have been Job. He had it all! He had enormous financial resources and the manpower to deal with problems on a large scale.
No one is immune from crises. God wants us to know in no uncertain terms that no one can ensure escape from life’s problems through accumulation of wealth and resources.
“Give this command to those who are rich with the things of this world. Tell them not to be proud. Tell them to hope in God, not their money. Money cannot be trusted, but God takes care of us richly. He gives us everything to enjoy.”—1 Timothy 6:17 (ERV)
“To rely on a horse for safety is vain, nor does its great power assure escape.”—Psalm 33:17 (CJB)
“The horse is prepared for the day of battle, but safety is from the Lord.”—Proverbs 21:31 (KJ21)
“Those people who trust in their fortunes and boast of their fantastic wealth? Wealth? It can’t save a single person! It can’t pay a life’s ransom-price to God.”—Psalm 49:6-7 (CEB)
“He who trusts in his riches will fall, But the righteous will flourish like foliage.”—Proverbs 11:28 (NKJV)
“Even if your riches grow, don’t put your trust in them.”—Psalm 62:10 (NIRV)
If we entrust our security to things that can be taken away, then we will never feel fully secure. We will never experience the profound peace that comes with knowing that we are secure no matter what happens. There will always be twinges of fear and insecurity.
We can use this as a signal. If we experience feelings of insecurity, it is a signal that we have placed our security in things that can be taken away from us. To remedy this and bring a stronger sense of security into our lives, we need to shift our security to things that cannot be taken away.
“Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy, and where thieves break in and steal. But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys, and where thieves do not break in or steal.”—Matthew 6:19-20 (NASB)
**Next: **God’s Discipline
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