Praising in the Middle of Pain - The Crosswalk Devotional - November 12
Praising in the Middle of Pain
By Cindi McMenamin
Bible Reading:
The Lord gave me what I had, and the Lord has taken it away.
Praise the name of the Lord! (Job 1:21 NLT)
Job said these words after literally losing everything he had. Can you imagine praising God, as Job did, after unimaginable loss?
The story of Job in the Bible is not a parable or a fable. Job was a real man, husband, father, and farmer. In fact, he was a present-day millionaire, in a sense. The Bible says he was the “greatest” (richest) man in the east. Then everything he had– and I mean everything—was gone in a day.
In spite of this obvious and apparent shock of suddenly losing everything—his livestock, his livelihood, his investments, and all ten of his children—Job’s response was worship of his Creator and the One who had allowed him to lose it all. In a humble, God-honoring statement that truly defined this man’s character, Job responded not with questions, complaints, or curses, but with praise:
“Naked I came from my mother’s womb,
And naked I shall return there.
The LORD gave and the LORD has taken away.
Blessed be the name of the LORD” (verses 20-21).
How could Job have responded that way?
I imagine you and I would react quite differently after losing just half as much as Job did. We might say things like:
“God, why?”
“God, I’ve served You and yet You let this happen.”
“God, are You even there, anymore?”
Experiencing loss upon loss can have that kind of effect on us. It makes us question everything we ever knew.
Yet, Job could praise God in his pain because, in his wisdom, he realized the one thing that mattered most to him—his God—was something he would never lose. Job realized God was still there, God was still good, and God was still worthy of his praise. Job saw God as his greatest possession.
Job’s response, though, wasn’t quite as stellar when he lost his health. When his livelihood and loved ones were taken from him, the emotional pain gave way to praise. But when his body became wracked with pain, the confusion, disillusionment, and responses that would be more like yours and mine set in. That is when Job began to question. That is when Job’s friends began to offer their opinions on why God was allowing his suffering. That is when Job met his darkest, most painful time—in the confusion of not understanding why God wasn’t letting up.
And then, we get the most beautiful description in all of Scripture of Who our Creator is and all that He is capable of. In chapters 38-41, God takes our breath away when He answers Job out of his “storm”—the biggest storm God knew any man or woman on earth would ever have to endure.
And God’s big reveal? His all-coveted answer to the age-old question why? It didn’t come. When God finally spoke, He didn’t solve the age-old mystery of why bad things happen to good people. Rather, His words began with: “Why do you talk so much when you know so little?” (Job 38:2 CEV). God was, in a sense, saying: “Who are you, Job, to question Me?”
And for four long chapters, God doesn’t shine a penlight of understanding on Job’s circumstances, but projects a spotlight on who the God of the Universe really is, and all He’s capable of.
After God’s discourse, Job is the one who is silent. After hearing God’s description of how He rules and sustains all creation, Job is speechless.
The only thing he can finally utter is a declaration that God is God and Job is not: “I know that no purpose of Yours can be thwarted” (Job 42:5).
Do you hear Job’s humility? Do you sense his surrender? Now listen for Job’s song—the true reward for his suffering. The rest of verse 5 reads: “My ears had heard of You, but now my eyes have seen You” (42:5).
Oh, to know God in a way that we have “seen” Him with our spiritual eyes… understanding how great and majestic He is and yet knowing that, in spite of all He allows or prevents, He still loves us beyond reason.
Intersecting Faith & Life:
What is God allowing you to go through so that you don’t just know about Him in your head, but truly know Him in your heart? What is He doing so you aren’t just one who has heard of God, you’ve had the privilege of seeing Him by faith?
Instead of assuming or concluding your pain is your punishment from the hand of God because He no longer loves you, consider that what you are going through may be God’s hand extending to you an opportunity to know Him in a way you never have before. Perhaps He is inviting you to walk closer to Him than you ever thought was possible.
Practice surrender today by telling God how much you love Him in spite of what hurts right now.
Further Reading:
Job 38-42
For encouragement on who God is and how much He loves you, see my book, The New Loneliness Devotional: 50 Days to a Closer Connection with God.
Join the conversation! Share how today’s devotional encouraged or challenged you in your walk with Christ.
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Related Resource: 9 Confusing Things about God– Answered By a Christian Philosopher
How can God be all-present (omnipresent) and yet be located in the temple and indwell believers? How can God know everything (omniscient) if He doesn't know what it is like to sin? How can God be a necessary Being if it is logically possible He doesn't exist? These are just a few of the tough, philosophical questions Sean McDowell discusses with William Lane Craig.
