I want to share with you some things I have learned from the book of Job on the topic, “How to Deal with Dark Days When They Come.”
Job was in the darkest time in his life.
He went from being the wealthiest and wisest man to losing everything. He lost his wealth, his children, his health, and his wife’s respect. I think if you are reading this blog, you probably know or have heard of the story of Job.
All of these things would be hard to handle, but I think one of the hardest things about the book of Job is the darkness that Job faced.
His friends came to sit with him, but it wasn’t long when Job realized what kind of friends they really were. They did not understand the condition that he was in. It was as if they were glad that he lost everything so that they could feel like maybe it was their time to shine. They were envious of his previous position and judged that surely he was receiving God’s judgment on his life. (Job 20:28-29)
The following are some of the feelings that Job had:
- Job was in anguish. (Job 7:11)
Anguish means severe mental or physical pain or suffering. Being extremely distressed about something.
- Job was in bitterness down to his soul. (Job 7:11, 9:18, 10:1)
Bitterness and excessive implacableness of passions and emotions; as the bitterness of anger. Keen sorrow; painful affliction; vexation; deep distress of mind.
- Job wished that he were not even alive. (Job 10:1, 3:11, 20-21)
- Job was full of confusion and affliction. (Job 10:15)
- Job was facing his greatest fears. (Job 3:25)
Job was so depressed that he did not want to get out of the bed.
I know that there have been times you may have found yourself in this same situation. You may not have lost everything physically, but your hurts are so deep, everything you have might as well have been stripped away.
The following are a few ways Job’s friends responded to him:
“If thou wert pure and upright; surely now he would awake for thee, and make the habitation of thy righteousness prosperous.” (Job 8:6)
Job’s friends were very sarcastic, “But now it is come upon thee, and thou faintest; it toucheth thee, and thou art troubled.” Why can’t you just suck it up, Job, and go on?
“For thou hast said, My doctrine is pure, and I am clean in thine eyes. But oh that God would speak, and open his lips against thee; Canst thou by searching find out God? canst thou find out the Almighty unto perfection? (Job 11:4, 5, 7) These friends belittled Job’s walk with God. They had a Pharisee attitude, “Surely you can’t be right with God or understand what God is doing!”
When I read this book I am amazed at the conversation between Job and his friends.
I want to give you a few thoughts from Job that we can use during our dark times, because they will come at some time in different forms and fashions.
Everyone is different and everything affects people differently.
- We must not assume because someone is going through trials that God is judging them. Also, we must not assume because someone is wealthy that they are “laying up treasures for themselves on earth.” They could be receiving the blessings of God. (Proverbs 11:31)
- Regardless of the Pharisee attitude that Job received from his friends, Job new in his heart that he was not inferior to them. Job says, “But I have understanding as well as you; I am not inferior to you: yea, who knoweth not such things as these?”(Job 12:3, 13:2) We must not judge one’s walk with God because they may be in a different place than you. You will never know or totally understand the things they have faced.
- Job realized that he was in God’s hands. (Job 12:10) Job knew that God had the power to build up and tear down. His circumstances were not in his control. Job still trusted God even when his world was ripped apart.
- Let people have a bad day without judging them for it. “Hold your peace, let me alone, that I may speak, and let come on me what will.” (Job 13:13)
- Job wasn’t afraid to pour out his complaint before God. “Though he slay me, yet will I trust in him: but I will maintain mine own ways before him. He also shall be my salvation: for an hypocrite shall not come before him.” (Job 13:15-16)
A hypocrite is not just someone who acts one way one place and is someone different in another place. A hypocrite is someone who says they know God, but does not rely on God to meet their needs. If your relationship with Christ is not as real as your closest relationship on earth, then a checkup needs to be done. ~Jackie Carr
“My friends scorn me: but mine eye poureth out tears unto God.” (Job 16:20)
- Even though Job was in darkness and felt like he couldn’t find God anywhere, He did not judge God wrongfully for it. “He hath fenced up my way that I cannot pass, and he hath set darkness in my paths.” “For I know that my redeemer liveth, and that he shall stand at the latter day upon the earth:” (Job 19:8, 25)
- When we are dealing with people in our lives, we must beg God for understanding. We are all different and there is no way in our own strength and wisdom that we can understand people the way they need to be understood. “For thou hast hid their heart from understanding: therefore shalt thou not exalt them.” (Job 17:4)
- In our dark times, we must remember God’s power. In Job 26 and 28, Job takes the whole chapter and brags about God to his friends. He brags about His power and His wisdom.
I hope some of these thoughts will help you in your dark days whether they have come to you or your loved one. One thing we must be confident in is our walk with God. There is no one greater or smarter than God. He will be there for you when you feel alone.
One of the reasons I write is to encourage you in your walk with God.
People will not always be there for you neither will you be able to be there for everyone, BUT…
“there is one that sticketh closer than a brother.” He ain’t going anywhere! Nothing can separate you from the love of Christ.
Love, Jackie
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