YOU CAN CONQUER DISAPPOINTMENT
JOB 2:1-10
GOD IS GOOD (ALL THE TIME)
AND ALL THE TIME (GOD IS GOOD)
THIS IS AN EJOYABLE CLICHÉ SAYING WHEN THINGS ARE GOING WELL, BUT CAN YOU REALLY MEAN THIS IN TIMES OF TRIAL OR ADVERSITY.
WE ARE ACCUSTOMED TO SEEK COMFORT AND PEACE IN OUR LIVES. OUR WORLD TEACHES US THAT WE SHOULD AVOID PAIN AND SUFFERING, AND IN FACT WE INVEST SEVERAL MILLIONS OF DOLLARS IN PAIN MANAGEMENT.
AS BORN-AGAIN CHRISTIANS THOUGH WE MUST BE WILLING TO ENTERTAIN THE THOUGHT THAT GOD WILL ALLOW PAIN AND SUFFERING, BOTH PHYSICAL AND SPIRITUAL, TO ENTER OUR LIVES FOR HIS GLORY AND PRAISE. PAUL TEACHES:
2 CORINTHIANS 12:9-10:
BUT HE SAID TO ME, “MY GRACE IS SUFFICIENT FOR YOU, FOR MY POWER IS MADE PERFECT IN WEAKNESS.” THEREFORE I WILL BOAST ALL THE MORE GLADLY ABOUT MY WEAKNESSES, SO THAT CHRIST’S POWER MAY REST ON ME. 10 THAT IS WHY, FOR CHRIST’S SAKE, I DELIGHT IN WEAKNESSES, IN INSULTS, IN HARDSHIPS, IN PERSECUTIONS, IN DIFFICULTIES. FOR WHEN I AM WEAK, THEN I AM STRONG
WE WILL FACE TIMES OF STRUGGLE IN OUR LIVES WHERE WE JUST WANT TO THROW UP OUR HANDS AND ASK GOD WHERE ARE YOU?
WHERE ARE YOU IN TIMES OF LOSS? THE LOSS OF A RELATIONSHIP
THE LOSS OF
PHYSICAL POSSESSIONS
THE LOSS OF HEALTH
DEATH
THIS CAN PROVIDE STRONG CHALLENGES TO OUR FAITH BECAUSE IT GOES AGAINST WHO WE THINK GOD SHOULD BE. IF GOD THOUGH IS TRULY SOVEREIGN IN OUR LIVES, THEN SHOULD WE ONLY EXPECT TO RECEIVE GOOD THINGS IN LIFE FROM HIM AND NOT TRIALS.
JOB 2:10: HE REPLIED, “YOU ARE TALKING LIKE A FOOLISH WOMAN. SHALL WE ACCEPT GOOD FROM GOD, AND NOT TROUBLE?” IN ALL THIS, JOB DID NOT SIN IN WHAT HE SAID.
ELIJAH, JEREMIAH, PAUL, PETER, JONAH, AND DAVID JUST TO NAME A FEW BIBLICAL GIANTS, ALL FACED TIMES OF GREAT TRIALS IN THEIR LIVES WHERE THEY BATTLED DEPRESSION AND SOME WONDERED IF IT WOULD NOT BE BETTER IF THEY WERE DEAD.
1 KINGS 19:4: WHILE HE HIMSELF WENT A DAY’S JOURNEY INTO THE WILDERNESS. HE CAME TO A BROOM BUSH, SAT DOWN UNDER IT AND PRAYED THAT HE MIGHT DIE. “I HAVE HAD ENOUGH, LORD,” HE SAID. “TAKE MY LIFE; I AM NO BETTER THAN MY ANCESTORS.”
JONAH 4:8: WHEN THE SUN ROSE, GOD PROVIDED A SCORCHING EAST WIND, AND THE SUN BLAZED ON JONAH’S HEAD SO THAT HE GREW FAINT. HE WANTED TO DIE, AND SAID, “IT WOULD BE BETTER FOR ME TO DIE THAN TO LIVE.”
SOME TRIALS ARE HARD TO UNDERSTAND AND SEEM VERY UNFAIR. SOME MAY LAST A LONG TIME AND NOT TURN OUT THE WAY WE WANT THEM TO. IT IS MUCH MORE DIFFICULT TO DEAL WITH, WHEN THE TRIAL ACTUALLY INVOLVES A FRIEND OR LOVED ONE AND WE CAN’T UNDERSTAND WHY SUCH A GOOD PERSON IS INFLICTED SO PAINFULLY.
SO WE MUST COME TO THE UNDERSTANDING THAT THE BORN-AGAIN CHRISTIAN SHOULD NOT WALK THE WAY OF THE WORLD WHEN IT COMES TO PAIN AND SUFFERING. IN SUFFERING GOD’S CHOICE IS REVEALED AND OUR LIVES REFINED FOR HIS GLORY, AND SO WE MUST BE PREPARED TO PRAY:
1. DON’T TAKE THIS PAIN FROM ME BECAUSE I MIGHT NO LONGER CLING TO YOU IN WEAKNESS.
2. DON’T TAKE THIS PAIN FROM ME, BECAUSE I MIGHT STOP UNDERSTANDING THE DEPTH OF YOUR LOVE AND FORGIVENESS.
3. DON’T TAKE THIS PAIN AWAY IF MY HEART WOULD WANDER AND BEGIN TO LOVE THIS WORLD ALL TOO MUCH.
4. DON’T TAKE THIS PAIN AWAY FROM ME IF YOU ARE USING IT TO MAKE ME MORE LIKE YOU.
WARREN WIERSBE WROTE THIS ABOUT CHARLES SPURGEON:
“CHARLES SPURGEON HAD A PLAQUE WITH ISAIAH 49:10 ON IT. “I HAVE CHOSEN THEE IN THE FURNACE OF AFFLICTION.” IT IS NO MEAN THING TO BE CHOSEN BY GOD. GOD’S CHOICE MAKES CHOSEN MEN, CHOICE MEN… WE ARE CHOSEN, NOT IN THE PALACE, BUT IN THE FURNACE. IN THE FURNACE, BEAUTY IS MARRED, FASHION IS DESTROYED, STRENGTH IS MELTED, GLORY IS CONSUMED. YET HERE ETERNAL LOVE REVEALS IT’S SECRETS, AND DECLARES ITS CHOICE.”
WHEN DEALING WITH THE ISSUE OF SUFFERING AND PAIN WE CAN LEARN MUCH BY LOOKING AT JOB. JOB WAS JUST A MAN, BUT WHO WAS VERY OBEDIENT AND COMMITTED TO HIS WALK WITH THE LORD. HIS FAITH ALLOWED HIM A DEEPER WALK WITH GOD AND TO OVERCOME GREAT TRIALS.
IT IS IRONIC THAT JOB’S SUFFERING CAME BECAUSE OF HIS BLAMELESS WALK WITH GOD BUT THE PROGRESSION IS SIMPLE, THE GREATER MATURITY, IN ANYTHING, WILL BRING GREATER CHALLENGE IN ORDER TO GROW.
JOB WAS CHOSEN FOR THIS CHALLENGE NOT BY SATAN BUT BY GOD.
JOB 1:8 – 2:3: THEN THE LORD SAID TO SATAN, “HAVE YOU CONSIDERED MY SERVANT JOB? THERE IS NO ONE ON EARTH LIKE HIM; HE IS BLAMELESS AND UPRIGHT, A MAN WHO FEARS GOD AND SHUNS EVIL.”
GOD CHOSE HIM BECAUSE HE HAD FAITH IN JOB. HE KNEW JOB’S SPIRITUAL MATURITY AND THAT HE COULD BE VICTORIOUS OVER THE CHALLENGES BECAUSE THE HOLY SPIRIT OF GOD PERSONALLY DESIGNED JOB FOR THE JOB.
GOD KNOWS US AS WELL, AND WE CAN REST IN THE ASSURANCE THAT IF WE ARE CHOSEN TO FACE A GREAT TRIAL, IT IS BECAUSE GOD ALSO HAS CONFIDENCE IN US.
1 CORINTHIANS 10:13: NO TEMPTATION HAS OVERTAKEN YOU EXCEPT WHAT IS COMMON TO MANKIND. AND GOD IS FAITHFUL; HE WILL NOT LET YOU BE TEMPTED BEYOND WHAT YOU CAN BEAR. BUT WHEN YOU ARE TEMPTED, HE WILL ALSO PROVIDE A WAY OUT SO THAT YOU CAN ENDURE IT.
BECAUSE GOD HAS CONFIDENCE IN US, HE WILL ALLOW SATAN TO TEST OUR SPIRITUAL WALK FOR DISCIPLINING AS WELL AS GROWTH.
OUR TRIALS OFFER US A VALUABLE RESOURCE TO USE NOT ONLY AGAINST SATAN BUT TO ENCOURAGE OTHERS. OUR TESTIMONY OF HOW GOD BROUGHT US THROUGH OUR TRIALS MAY BE JUST THE WORD SOMEONE NEEDS TO GET THROUGH THEIRS.
REVELATION 12:11: THEY TRIUMPHED OVER HIM BY THE BLOOD OF THE LAMB AND BY THE WORD OF THEIR TESTIMONY; THEY DID NOT LOVE THEIR LIVES SO MUCH AS TO SHRINK FROM DEATH.
THE BACKGROUND FOR OUR PASSAGE IS QUITE SIMPLE. JOB IS A WEALTHY LANDOWNER IN THE LAND OF UZ. HE IS COMMITTED AND DEDICATED TO HIS WALK WITH THE LORD FOR HE AND HIS FAMILY.
THE ANGELS APPEAR BEFORE GOD, AND SATAN IS AMONG THEM. GOD BRINGS UP THE NAME OF HIS SERVANT JOB, AND SATAN SUGGESTS THAT GOD HAS PUT A HEDGE AROUND JOB AND THAT IS WHY HE IS SO FAITHFUL. NOTHING BAD IS GOING TO HAPPEN TO HIM.
GOD RESPONDS BY TELLING SATAN THAT HE CAN GO AFTER JOB’S POSSESSIONS, BUT NOT THE MAN HIMSELF. CHAPTER ONE REFERS TO A STRING OF EVENTS THAT HAPPENS TO JOB UNDER SATAN’S DIRECTION, WITH THE APPROVAL OF GOD. JOB DID NOT KNOW IT WAS A TEST, AND HE REPLIED IN RESPONSE TO WHAT HAD HAPPENED
JOB 1:21: “NAKED I CAME FROM MY MOTHER’S WOMB, AND NAKED I WILL DEPART. THE LORD GAVE AND THE LORD HAS TAKEN AWAY; MAY THE NAME OF THE LORD BE PRAISED
IN CHAPTER TWO SATAN AGAIN PRESSES THE ISSUE, STATING THAT IF GOD WOULD ALLOW HIM TO ATTACK JOB’S BODY THAT HE WOULD TURN FROM GOD.
GOD ALLOWED THE ATTACK ON JOB’S BODY AND SATAN ATTACKED JOB WITH PAINFUL SORES, THE CLOSEST THING WE CAN RELATE TO WOULD BE SHINGLES. THE PAIN WAS SO INTENSE THAT JOB TOOK POTTERY AND SCRAPED HIS BODY BURSTING THE SORES TO ALLEVIATE THE PAIN. HIS FRIENDS AND WIFE SPOKE AGAINST HIM. JOB WAS IN CONSTANT PAIN, AND HAD NO FRIENDS WHO WOULD OR COULD HELP HIM. YET IN ALL OF THIS HE WOULD NOT SPEAK AGAINST GOD.
JOB DOES QUESTION WHY THIS IS HAPPENING TO HIM. IN CHAPTER 3 HE ASKS “WHY” FIVE TIMES. IT IS NOT WRONG TO ASK WHY WE ARE GOING THROUGH DIFFICULTY, AS LONG AS WE DON’T MISTAKENLY THINK THAT GOD OWES US AN ANSWER TO OUR QUESTION. NOR SHOULD WE THINK THAT IF GOD WERE TO GIVE US AN ANSWER THAT IT WOULD LESSEN OUR PAIN.
THE REST OF THE BOOK DEALS WITH CONVERSATIONS INVOLVING JOB, HIS THREE FRIENDS, AND GOD.
THE MAIN LESSON FROM JOB SHOWS US HOW WE CAN HAVE VICTORY OVER THE DISAPPOINTMENTS LIFE CAN BRING. I WANT TO SUGGEST TO YOU FOUR REASONS WHY GOD WILL SOMETIMES ALLOW SUFFERING AND SICKNESS TO INVADE OUR LIVES.
1. GOD WILL SOMETIMES ALLOW SUFFERING AND TRIAL TO GET OUR ATTENTION. WE ARE REBELLING FROM GOD AND HE WANTS IT TO STOP.
PSALM 119:67: BEFORE I WAS AFFLICTED I WENT ASTRAY, BUT NOW I OBEY YOUR WORD.
HAS SOMETHING TRAGIC HAPPENED TO YOU LATELY. IT COULD BE THE DEATH OF A LOVED ONE, OR BAD NEWS FROM THE DOCTOR FOR YOURSELF. PERHAPS YOU LOST YOUR JOB, OR THERE IS A BREAKUP IN A RELATIONSHIP. IT COULD BE THAT YOU ARE FOCUSING SO MUCH ON THESE WORLDLY THINGS THAT GOD TAKES THEM FROM YOU TO GET YOUR ATTENTION.
2. GOD WILL SOMETIMES ALLOW SUFFERING AND TRIAL TO SHOW US WHAT WE ARE MADE OF.
GOD WILL ALLOW THESE SATANIC ATTACKS BECAUSE THEY WILL SHOW OTHERS AS WELL AS OURSELVES WHAT WE ARE MADE OF. WHEN ATTACKED A TRUE BELIEVER WILL TURN TO GOD.
SUFFERING DOESN’T CREATE CHARACTER IT REVEALS IT. WHEN JOB’S WIFE CHALLENGED HIM TO “CURSE GOD AND DIE”, HIS REBUKE OF HER SUGGESTION REVEALED MUCH ABOUT HIS CHARACTER.
3. GOD ALLOWS SUFFERING AND TRIALS TO HELP US GROW SPIRITUALLY AND MAKE US STRONGER IN THE FAITH.
PAIN AND SUFFERING TAKES OUR FAITH FROM THE REALM OF THEORY INTO THE REALM OF REALITY. IT COMPELS US TO USE OUR RESOURCES AND EXERCISE OUR FAITH IN HIM. EVERY VICTORY CAN GIVE US NEW CONFIDENCE IN OUR LORD AND NEW COURAGE FOR THE NEXT ONSLAUGHT OF THE FOE.
4. SUFFERING CAN PREPARE US FOR A SPECIAL TASK.
THIS WAS THE CASE OF JOSEPH. HE WAS SOLD INTO SLAVERY, THROWN INTO PRISON, JUST TO PREPARE HIM FOR THE TASK THAT GOD WANTED HIM TO DO.
IT COULD BE THAT THE HARDSHIPS YOU ARE FACING TODAY ARE PREPARING YOU FOR GREAT OPPORTUNITIES TOMORROW. AFTER JOB WENT THROUGH HIS TRIALS GOD REWARDED JOB WITH TWICE WHAT HE HAD BEFORE. HE HAD PASSED THE TEST, BUT NOT WITHOUT THE SCARS OF THE BATTLE. HE HAD MORE CHILDREN, BUT NOTHING COULD REPLACE THE ONES HE LOST. YOU CAN BE SURE THAT THE MORE WE SUFFER FOR CHRIST, THE MORE GOD WILL SHOWER US WITH COMFORT THROUGH CHRIST.
CONCLUSION:
SO WHAT TRIAL ARE YOU FACING TODAY? ARE YOU MOURNING A LOSS OF SOME KIND? DO YOU HAVE A DREAM THAT WON’T BE FULFILLED? DO YOU HAVE A HEALTH OR FINANCIAL ISSUE?
WOULD YOU DARE TO THANK GOD FOR THIS TRIAL AND ASK HIM WHAT HE WANTS TO TEACH YOU THROUGH IT? ARE YOU PREPARED TO ALLOW GOD TO HELP OTHERS BY TESTIFYING AS TO HOW HE HELPED YOU GET THROUGH IT?
2 CORINTHIANS 1:3-5:
PRAISE BE TO THE GOD AND FATHER OF OUR LORD JESUS CHRIST, THE FATHER OF COMPASSION AND THE GOD OF ALL COMFORT, 4 WHO COMFORTS US IN ALL OUR TROUBLES, SO THAT WE CAN COMFORT THOSE IN ANY TROUBLE WITH THE COMFORT WE OURSELVES RECEIVE FROM GOD. 5 FOR JUST AS WE SHARE ABUNDANTLY IN THE SUFFERINGS OF CHRIST, SO ALSO OUR COMFORT ABOUNDS THROUGH CHRIST
A PERSON ONCE WROTE:
“A PERSON EXPECTS TO LOSE A PARENT, MAYBE EVEN A BROTHER, SISTER AUNT OR UNCLE, BUT, NEVER A CHILD. MY SON WOULD HAVE BEEN 16 YEARS OLD THIS YEAR. IT HAS BEEN 15 YEARS SINCE HIS DEATH. HE WAS THE PERSON WHO BROUGHT ME TO THE LORD. BECAUSE OF HIS DEATH I RECEIVED MY SALVATION. THE COMFORT I FOUND WHEN I FELL INTO GOD’S HANDS….GOD KNOWS MY PAIN; HE LOST A SON TOO! 15 YEARS LATER, I STILL CRY AT CHRISTMAS. THAT’S WHEN I REMEMBER HIS LIFE AND MY LOSS. I STILL CRY AT EASTER, THAT’S WHEN I AM ASSURED I WILL SEE HIM AGAIN. I KNOW I WILL NEVER GET OVER IT BECAUSE I DON’T WANT TO GET OVER IT. THE INTENSITY IS LESS, LIKE THE JOY OF LIFE TAKES THE PAIN AWAY AT BIRTH. I HAVE FOUND SALVATION THROUGH GOD’S SON BECAUSE OF THE LOSS OF MINE.”
MAY THE REALITY OF OUR PAIN BRING US TO A CLOSE AND PERSONAL RELATIONSHIP WITH OUR LORD JESUS CHRIST, AND MAY IT BEGIN AS WE COME TO THE TABLE TODAY.
