There are hard times in life, I think we can all agree to that. The severity of those hard times definitely vary from person to person, but no matter the situation there are times in this life when we will suffer, feel pain, hurt, become stressed, anxious, feel like there is no light at the end of the tunnel, and its times like these when I feel like I just have no control over my life and there is nothing I can do to help my helpless situation, I turn to Job. If you don’t know who my good friend Job is, there is an entire book in the Bible dedicated to him and his life. I’m not going to explain the entire book because that could be an article or two in itself, but instead I’m just going to quickly summarize how the book of Job helps me with my stress, anxiety, and my questioning of if God is even hearing my prayers.
The book Job is about a man named Job who begins as a very blessed man, he is one of the richest people in the land, and he is also a very devout Christian. Satan approaches God and asks if he can send destruction, and chaos to Job, and then see if he still praises God. God allows Satan to torment Job with whatever he could think of, Job’s family is killed, livestock stolen, servants killed, and yet Job still does not sin against God in his heart. Job does begin to question why he is being followed by tragedy, and it’s then when Job’s relationship with God changed from a relationship of tradition, to a personal relationship. He finally realizes in the end that whatever is sent his way will end to his benefit because he knows the Almighty God that will never forsake him.
When I feel like times are getting hard, when I feel like I’m losing grip on something in my life, I read Job and I realize I was never supposed to have a grip on things. And if I’m holding on too tight to something, it will be taken away from me one way or another. Job also helps me realize my struggles, my pains, don’t compare. Job was able to sustain every nasty, hurtful, harmful thing Satan could do to him, yet he never sinned against God, so then why am I considering giving up, and getting upset with God because I feel like He’s not doing what I want him to do. Job’s struggles, while much greater than my own are relatable, just the same. I compare my situation to Job and I immediately realize there is a plan, there is a reason, I might not know it but that’s why I have to continue trusting and keeping the faith. Job did not know that God was talking to Satan in the background, and that God was reviewing Job's actions.
I suffer from great anxiety, and I’m a perfectionist who loves to have control of everything in my life. I like having all of my ducks in a row, and knowing exactly what is going to happen in the future. The unknown and the uncontrollable makes me stressed and anxious; I don’t do well with not having a plan, and then a backup plan and then a backup plan for my backup plan. It’s just the way I’m wired, but God doesn’t want me to suffer from stress, or anxiety, He doesn’t want you to either. He tells us to cast all of our burdens on Him. He is the one who wants to be in control, and if you are taking matters into your own hands, I can guarantee you, He will put you into situations that are impossible for you to control.
I encourage you the next time you feel like you are going through a hard time pick up your Bible, and check out the book of Job.
