The Book of Job fascinates me. God himself declared Job as “blameless and upright, a man who fears God and shuns evil” (Job 1:8). Although deeply devout, Job suffered the greatest trials recorded in the Bible. When I read about and meditate on Job, I want to gain insights about how my own heart handles life’s sufferings. For example, we know that Job was a godly man, but he was not a perfect man. Gold that goes through fire becomes even more pure. Job was in the fire! As the chapters of Job’s suffering stretched on, Job caved in to feelings of anger and despair. His responses to his friends grew more combative and self-righteous. Finally, we read in 31:40, “The words of Job are ended.” After Job stopped his verbal barrage, God began to speak to him—first through a man named Elihu. Consider what Elihu said in response to Job’s arguments: “But you have said in my hearing—I heard the very words—I am pure and without sin; I am clean and free from guilt. Yet God has found fault with me; he considers me his enemy” (Job 33:8-10). Elihu recognized that Job struggled with sin—just like we all do. In times of great stress and struggle, we easily defend ourselves, and we tend to blame God. During times when nothing seems to go right, we are tempted to imagine God as our enemy…certainly not our friend. I’m so glad that I live in the time after our Lord Jesus came to earth. He showed us God’s great love, and that he is the Good Shepherd who cares for the sheep. Even though we are not spared from life’s problems, Jesus promised to be with us and carry us all the way home! So, instead of giving in to our sinful tendencies of self-justification and blame, may the Lord give us the grace to entrust our souls to Him. May we believe that God is for us and not against us. And remember: “Life is sometimes hard, but God is always good!”

Pastor Mark Boucher