The first two lessons Job has to teach us is to remind us that God is sovereign and that we can add to people’s suffering if we are poor counsellors. This morning Job teaches us something about the added burdens prolonged suffering can bring to bear on someone’s life. A faith that starts out strong can be worn down over time.
JOB TEACHES US ABOUT THE DANGER OF DURATION
For a suffering person, time can be a killer. Just like termites that attack a wooden building gradually weakens the structure so too can time wear down our faith. The book of Job identifies a couple of dangers that come in the wake of prolonged suffering.
- DESPAIR – In Job 1:20, 21 we see that Job initially responded with great faith. He fell to the ground in worship. When he lost his health his faith remained strong in 2:10 shall we accept good from God, and not trouble?” Job does not remain so strong forever. When the friends arrive it is clear he has been suffering for some time because we read in 2:12 they could hardly recognize him. In chapter 3 we can see that the sheer duration of his suffering wore him down and he eventually breaks down and curses the day he was born (3:3). In 7:7 he prays; remember, O God, that my life is but a breath; my eyes will never see happiness again. “I will never get better!” “I will never be happy again!!” “Lockdown will never end!” When a sufferer uses words like “I will never . . .” we may sense the beginning of despair.
- DEPRESSION – Look at Job 3:24; for sighing comes to me instead of food; my groans pour out like water. A suffering person’s sighs and groans are frequent as they face day to day activities and their appetites are blunted. In Job 7:4 we read; when I lie down I think, ‘How long before I get up?’ The night drags on, and I toss till dawn. In 7:13-16 we can detect the signs of depression; when I think my bed will comfort me and my couch will ease my complaint, even then you frighten me with dreams and terrify me with visions, so that I prefer strangling and death, rather than this body of mine. I despise my life; I would not live forever. Let me alone; my days have no meaning. What can we suggest to people experiencing depression as a result of protracted suffering? I have always found the wise counsel of Elisabeth Elliot helpful. She endured the martyrdom of losing her husband Jim. During the months that followed simple domestic jobs became huge burdens. When Elizabeth Elliot was asked how she coped through that dark period she replied; “I did the next right thing.” If that was to get up in the morning and make children breakfast then she would do that. Those who sufferings are prolonged need to learn this lesson of simply doing the next right thing.
- ANGER – In 6:4 he says; “The arrows of the Almighty are in me, my spirit drinks in their poison; God’s terrors are marshalled against me.” In 6:11 he continues; “What strength do I have, that I should still hope? . . . Do I have the strength of stone? Is my flesh bronze?” In other words; “Lord just how much more do you think I can take. I’m not made of metal. Cut me and I bleed.” In 7:20 Job continues with his tirade; “If I have sinned, what have I done to you, O watcher of men? Why have you made me your target? Have I become a burden to you?” Why are you singling me out for “special” treatment? Of course Job is going too far. His great sufferings are making him strike out and say things that ought not to be said. There are times when Christians undergoing severe trial have an outburst of anger. The temptation is to immediately correct them and slap them over the knuckles. In time those thoughts will definitely need to be challenged but it is not necessary to do it immediately. A sympathetic pair of ears is far more helpful and more often than not your suffering friend will correct their own outburst themselves. A 17th century pastor once counselled a depressed women by saying “I bid you, vent your rage into the bosom of God.” He was not counselling anger towards God but allowing it to press you closer to the heart of God.
- STRAINED RELATIONSHIPS – in 19:13-19 Job explains how his ongoing sufferings had put stresses on the relationships of those around him. He has alienated my brothers from me; my acquaintances are completely estranged from me. My kinsmen have gone away; my friends have forgotten me. My guests and my maidservants count me a stranger; they look upon me as an alien. I summon my servant, but he does not answer, though I beg him with my own mouth. My breath is offensive to my wife; I am loathsome to my own brothers. Even the little boys scorn me; when I appear, they ridicule me. All my intimate friends detest me; those I love have turned against me. Notice how Job highlights his other family members, workers, wife and even neighbourhood kids. How easy is it to aggravate a family member who is struggling with terminal cancer or the earlier stages of dementia by talking about them and not to them. At the same time we need to be sympathetic to the struggles of the family members themselves.
As we counsel suffering people or go through the fires ourselves it is comforting to meditate on Job 23:10 _but he knows the way that I take; when he has tested me, I will come forth as gold._As we wait let us keep in mind these four characteristics of prolonged suffering.