On Sunday, Pastor Rob will continue his sermon series drawn from the content of his new book, When the Bottom Drops Out. During this series, he is sharing the lessons he and his family learned about God’s grace in the midst of profound disappointment. In addition, he will lay out a biblically based “theology of suffering” that will enable us to persevere through the inevitable storms of life. In our devotions this week, we’ll examine four biblical truths that we see playing out whenever we face trouble of any kind.
We thank Kim Miller -- a senior editor at Tyndale House Publishers who worked with Pastor Rob on the editing of his book -- for preparing these devotional thoughts . Kim also attends Wheaton Bible Church, and leads a small group of sixth grade girls in Quest56.
Today we read and meditate on Job 1:20-22 in the New International Version, but feel free to read from the translation of your choice:
At this, Job got up and tore his robe and shaved his head. Then he fell to the ground in worship and said: “Naked I came from my mother’s womb, and naked I will depart. The LORD gave and the LORD has taken away; may the name of the LORD be praised.” In all this, Job did not sin by charging God with wrongdoing.
Several familiar passages became especially significant to Pastor Rob during his wife’s illness. One of them is Job’s response after he’s been told that his vast herds of livestock have been stolen, his servants massacred by raiders, and his children killed by a freak windstorm: “The LORD gave and the LORD has taken away; may the name of the Lord be praised.”
Note that Job doesn’t hide his grief. The messengers who delivered the terrible news would recognize that by tearing his robe and shaving his head, Job was expressing great sorrow. It wouldn’t be surprising to see a grieving man fall on his face either -- but notice why Job prostrated himself: he was deep in worship.
Was Job in denial? Or perhaps in shock? No, Job chose to hold fast to what Pastor Rob points to asTruth #2:
God is wonderfully and completely sovereign.
When we face troubles of our own, our heavenly Father invites us to rest in the confidence that He is in control and that nothing happens to us that He has not permitted.
Tom Williams and Carol Bugh both clung to God’s sovereignty. Though they didn’t like losing their health and facing the prospect that they might die at relatively young ages, they didn’t give in to despair. In fact, when e-mailing friends and family before undergoing major surgery, doctors’ final effort to keep his cancer in check, Tom wrote, “My life is, as always, in His hands.” He died just a few weeks later.
If you wonder if God expects too much from hurting people, remember Jesus’ fervent prayer in the garden of Gethsemane: “Take this cup from me. Yet not what I will, but what you will” (Mark 14:36). Knowing He would be betrayed and sentenced to death that very night, Jesus acknowledged His preference yet chose His Father’s will above His own.
If you are hurting, come to your heavenly Father. Don’t be afraid to express your raw feelings and your deep desires, yet ask for the grace to put your complete trust -- your very life -- in God’s hands.
Father,
When I bring You my doubts, my fears, my questions, You may not give me the answers I want, but thank You that You always offer me Your presence, Your peace, and Your comfort. Please give me the grace to grab hold of those today.
Amen.