There are times in life when God seems absent and we want to ask Him, "Where were you with that one, God?" Five years ago this month my cousin was killed in a car accident on his way to an amusement park with his girlfriend; they were going there to celebrate his birthday. In his mid-twenties, his life was taken from him, and it left the rest of the family asking the question: Where are you, God? Why do you allow things like this to happen? Isn't that a question we all face from time to time?
Why do husbands cheat on wives? Why do jobs end? Why do people have to battle cancer? In such situations we attribute the blame to God because we know that he could step in and change the outcome… but many times He doesn't. Some people have lost their faith because of their inability to comprehend how a loving God could allow adversity and evil in the world. In order for good to exist, however, evil must also have a place. We cannot know something is good unless we can tangibly see bad, just as we can't experience joy if we haven't experienced its opposite: despair.
The incredible character of Job is particularly challenging to us when we face trying circumstances. Despite the difficulty, Job spoke the following: "My foot has held fast to [God’s] steps; I have kept his way and have not turned aside" (23:11) The Bible often speaks of challenging circumstances in life molding us into the people God wants us to be. He does not necessarily hold responsibility for such circumstances, but He allows them to burn away our inferior qualities and to develop perseverance. James teaches us that perseverance’s goal is to bring completeness to us so we are not lacking anything. The ultimate completeness will come when we reach eternity. Another great lesson taught by the life of Job.
Favorite verse: “For I know that my Redeemer lives… (19:25,26)- but I’d forgotten the gem right before it, where Job wishes his words were written down for all eternity in a book! (does that make anybody else chuckle?). Seth, you point out that joy’s opposite is despair, and is a prerequisite to joy. Funny how true that is even for those born and raised in happy Christian homes. The despair that comes from realizing one’s disposition to sin has to have occurred before one truly experiences the joy of understanding Redemption and Salvation. At least it seems that way to me. The least joyful Christians seem to be the ones who don’t “get” their sinfulness in the first place, so don’t really “get” the grace thing, either.
In his book on James, Be Mature, Warren Wiersbe encourages readers to not “waste” their trials. We can claim God’s promise to work all things together for the good of them who love Him and are called according to HIS purpose (Rom. 8:28). We could choose to get nothing out of a trial and live with no purpose. How much better is it to learn to discern what a trial is, with Lord’s help grab it by the horns, and say “I’m not wasting this one. Lord, I don’t know why I must go through this. If you can take it away, take it away. If not, what can I learn from it? How can you help me to grow closer to you, Lord. How can you use me in this trial for my own good, for good of others, and for your good?” Then, and only then can we really count it all gain.
On the point about being complete, it would be absolutely wonderful if God could just get rid of all the yuckiness in me now. I want to be complete now. How many other things do I want “now”? It’s difficult when you know that it is achievable to wait for all of “self” to be whittled away by God through time and experiences.