Suffer Well. Comfort Well.

One important thing the book of Job teaches us is that we should go to God! For anything and everything, but especially as we suffer. Job’s relationship with God should be our aim regardless of our circumstances. Job speaks directly to God, taking all of his cares and concerns to Him instead of just venting to other people who have no concern for his spiritual wellbeing. We see this in the first part of Job, leading up to chapters 15 and 16. In these two chapters, Job’s friend is accusing him of faithlessness. He’s claiming Job doesn’t fear God or “have enough faith," and is in turn why he says Job’s life has turned out the way it has.

On the surface, or to the weak Christian this accusation may sound accurate. To a shallow theology it might make sense to utter those sort of words to someone you see in the midst of suffering, especially if you haven’t suffered yourself. Essentially, the words of Job’s friend are like a worthless and false gospel. Void of truth and unable to be applied to every Christian in every corner of the earth whether they are suffering or prospering. Suffering and prosperity are not on equal footing. They are not mutually exclusive. You would do well to consider those who suffer to be greater and those who prosper to be less. Because, “it is easier for a camel to pass through the eye of a needle than it is for a rich man to enter the kingdom of heaven.”

Job’s response should be ours when we hear similar accusations in the midst of suffering. “I have heard many such things; miserable comforters are you all…” answers Job to begin chapter 16.  

So how do we apply this exchange? We should be quick to listen, and slow to speak when we have friends who suffer. Let’s not call their faith into question, or accuse them of being weak and in need of a prodigal return. Because God is sovereign over every affair of man and those who are suffering might very well be being used to display the glory of God. If your preaching cannot be applied to every Christian throughout the world, whether prospering in the US and honoring God as a business owner or suffering through sickness and starvation as a missionary in Nigeria then it is not the true gospel.

On the other hand, let’s run to God in the midst of our suffering. Let’s hold fast to Him when it seems our life is falling down around us. We shouldn’t view our suffering as God’s wrathful vengeance against our sin. He’s already poured out ALL of his wrath on Christ, on the cross for those who trust in Him. Surround ourselves with people who will preach the gospel to us when we might need it the most. And finally, we should dive deep in the ocean of theology, growing greater in our knowledge of God, so we can pull from the fruit of those truths in the midst of sorrow and hold unswervingly in our trusting Him and His promises.