Theology Tuesday

Job lived....(Job 42:16a CSB)

When one reads through Job, we see a man who goes through spiritual battles, physical battles and emotional battles.  Job was a righteous man.  A man who in verse 1:1 is referred to as a "man of compete integrity, who feared God and turned away from evil."  He was a loved his family so much that he would "rise each morning to offer burnt offerings for all of them" just in case they sinned (Job 1:5).  God even thought highly of him.  

Have you considered my servant Job?  No one else on earth is like him, a man of perfect integrity who fears God and turns away from evil." (Job 1:8)

Did you see what God says "No one else on earth is like him.."  Job seems pretty exceptional but Job still needed to go through a trial.  

In our western Christian culture I have viewed the church when someone is struggling.  They say "buck it up" and "have more faith".  It is seen as weakness when someone is going through something.  Like they had to have done something.  Sound familiar.  Didn't Job's friends say the same thing?  The problem is that we are ALL going to go through trials. Some may be short some may be years. 

I think of the bleeding woman (Mark 5:25-28).  Twelve (12) years she had to go through this.  Twelve years of waking up each morning and hoping your prayers have been answered and then see the evidence that they have not.  Twelve years of paying for doctors over and over again hoping for an answer and going broke looking for an answer.  Twelve years of being ostracized by your community and I am sure having good friends ask "What is your sin?"  Twelve years.....

We live in a self help quick fix culture.  The problem is God's timing is not our timing.  The bleeding woman had to wait 12 years for Jesus to be truly healed.  Job had to wait until he went through his trials to come through them.  We are called to wait.  We need to go through the trial to be refined..."so that the proof of your faith, being more precious than gold which is perishable, even though tested by fire, may be found to result in praise and glory and honor at the revelation of Jesus Christ; " 1 Peter 1:7.  

If you are going trough a trial right now.  Be still.  Continue to pray and lean in on the One who is going through your trials with you.  Be held.  Remember you are not alone.  Be patient.  I know this one is hard but in waiting there will be greater rewards/refining.  Remember Job lived.  You too will get through this.  It will seem dark but the light will shine and new birth and resurrection will happen.