Last week, in MANAGING TROUBLES, Part 2, we learned the pitfalls of falling into the ever-so-tempting trap of self-pity. We saw how self-pity will blind us to what God is truly doing in our lives and in the lives of others. But just how DO we manage our problems, anyway?
Our next lesson comes to us from the way Job manages his troubles.
As you read through the book, it quickly becomes clear that Job is far from an ideal example of someone who manages troubles God’s way.
It’s true that Job’s initial response to his problems was admirable. After losing all of his family, his wealth and his health, his wife advised him: “Do you still hold fast to your integrity? Curse God and die!” (Job 2:9 NKJV) And Job’s response? “You speak as one of the foolish women speaks. Shall we indeed accept good from God, and shall we not accept adversity?” (Job 2:10a).
It’s pretty commendable, isn’t it? And Job WAS commended for his response: “In all this Job did not sin with his lips.” (Job 2:10b NKJV).
But then Job doesn’t say anything for seven whole days, and when he does begin to speak, his words are full of self-pity: “May the day perish on which I was born, And the night in which it was said, ‘A male child is conceived.'” (Job 3:3 NKJV) In other words, his message is loud and clear: “Woe is me!”
We also know that Job considered himself to be without sin: “Yes, concede, my righteousness still stands!” (Job 6:29 NKJV), despite the fact that “all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God.” (Rom 3:23).
So Job’s response is far from ideal. We also know that when it was all said and done, God spent four chapters reprimanding Job (see Job 38-41).
But the end of the book brings us the real lesson to be learned. Job recognizes his ignorance. He recognizes his errors and it is with a repentant heart that he approaches the throne of Grace: “I have heard of You by the hearing of the ear, But now my eye sees You. Therefore I abhor myself, And repent in dust and ashes.” (Job 42:5-6 NKJV)
What about us? When we go through troubles, do we ever arrive at the point where we humble ourselves in the sight of the Lord? Do we ever admit that there has been something for us to learn through the problems? If we do, then we have indeed, learned the lesson of Job. But if we have not, then friends, we can be sure that the troubles will come again. And again. And again. Until we learn this important Truth: We are NOT perfect, there is ALWAYS something we can learn from our problems!
It was said in a powerful sermon I once heard: You don’t ever fail God’s test; you just have to retake them! I don’t know about you, but I’d rather learn my lessons the first time around!
Does the book of Job teach us about other pit-falls to avoid when going through troubled times? Please join us next week for MANAGING TROUBLES. Tips From the Book of Job, Part 4: Are we Truly Listening?
In His love,
Lyn
Lyn Chaffart, Mother of two teens, Speech-Language Pathologist, Author and Moderator for The Nugget, a tri-weekly internet newsletter, and Scriptural Nuggets, a website devoted to Christian devotionals and inspirational poems, with Answers2Prayer Ministries.
(To access the entire “Managing Troubles” mini-series, please click here.)