Job's Cry

“Oh, that I might have my request,
    that God would grant what I hope for, 

that God would be willing to crush me,
    to let loose his hand and cut off my life! 

Then I would still have this consolation—
    my joy in unrelenting pain—
    that I had not denied the words of the Holy One.

“What strength do I have, that I should still hope?
    What prospects, that I should be patient? 

Do I have the strength of stone?
    Is my flesh bronze? 

Do I have any power to help myself,
    now that success has been driven from me?

“A despairing man should have the devotion of his friends,

    even though he forsakes the fear of the Almighty.

But my brothers are as undependable as intermittent streams,
    as the streams that overflow

Job 6:8-15

In all these, Job did not sin by cursing God. Job longed to live blamelessly and let the Joy of the Lord be his strength. He did not understand why he is facing all the pain and anguish. May we be like Job, not shaken in trials, especially since we have this unswerving promise of Christ's love and redemption for us.

While suffering is the chief theme of the book, a reason for suffering is not given. Instead, we are told that God is the highest law in the universe and that often his reasons are known only to him.

We also learn that an invisible war is raging between the forces of good and evil. Satan sometimes inflicts suffering on human beings in that battle.

God is good. His motives are pure, although we may not always understand them. God is in control and we are not. We have no right to give God orders.

This Easter, let's also remember the ultimate act of love that Jesus poured out on the cross. When he suffered excruciating pain, scorning, betrayals, and even felt abandoned by the Father. He willingly underwent these for you and me. We have victory over sin and death. And we are fighting and living our lives from victory as we follow Jesus!