There was a man in the Old Testament named Job (rhymes with globe) who was in right standing in God’s eyes. Yet he went through suffering and an extremely great loss to the point that he wished he was never born. Even his wife told him to curse God and end his life or simply, just give up! Several of his friends, hearing of his losses and the anguish he was going through, came to the place where he resided.
They Felt Job’s Suffering Was God’s Punishment
Rather than giving encouragement and support, they chided and ‘counseled’ him in what they believed were his erroneous ways. Each one felt that, obviously, he must have sinned and needed to give up and repent of his wrongful actions. They were convinced that God was punishing him and that there was no possibility that He would work in any other manner. Their ‘help’ was really just condemnation after condemnation.
Yet, through it all, Job did not sin against God…he knew and trusted in God in a manner like no one else around him and did not give up.
In Spite of the Condemnation Job Did Not Give Up
Not one openly sought God first about Job’s condition; they firmly believed they were right and he was wrong. None ever considered that God ordained all of this and was behind it all, even Job himself—until sometime later when God made it known. Yet, through it all, Job did not sin against God. He did not even follow his wife’s advice. He lost his wealth, family, and health. This struggle brought him down to the very core of his being. But in the end, he knew and trusted in God in a manner like no one else around him and did not give up. God works this way in all who truly want to follow Him.
As we travel the path He has laid for us, we often find it to be a real struggle. There are rough places and narrow stretches. We are accused and blamed though we have done nothing wrong. We find that it is not easy like others said it would be. But, in spite of it all, as we follow God’s word and draw closer to Him, we continue to find many areas of our life become better than they were before we knew Him.
We’re Traveling and Travailing Onward
The word ‘travel’ has the same origin as ‘travail’—meaning to torment, labor, or journey. While we are not necessarily tortured or tormented, we do toil, labor, and struggle on a journey—but this one has eternal rewards. And, unlike traveling (or travailing) in this current world’s system, which leads only to physical exhaustion and death, we are on our way to a heavenly place which has no pain, struggle, toil, or travail. We, like Job, are in a continual refinement process, not so much to prepare us for our heavenly destination, as for the present age that we live in.
Our Problems Now Prepare Us For Problems Later
We could equate our travail with the actions of a vaccine. It introduces a small amount of a disease into us so our body builds up immunity, or a means to cope with greater amounts of the same or a similar malady in the future. Similarly, God leads us into situations to bring us where we will turn to Him for deliverance. As a result, when similar problems come our way, we know how to handle them victoriously and not give up, just as Jesus did when the storm came upon the boat He and His disciples were traveling in.
“Now it came to pass on a certain day, that He went into a ship with His disciples: and He said unto them, Let us go over unto the other side of the lake. And they launched forth. But as they sailed He fell asleep: and there came down a storm of wind on the lake; and they were filled with water, and were in jeopardy.
And they came to Him, and awoke him, saying, Master, Master, we perish. Then He arose, and rebuked the wind and the raging of the water: and they ceased, and there was a calm. And He said unto them, Where is your faith? And they being afraid wondered, saying one to another, What manner of man is this! for He commandeth even the winds and water, and they obey Him.”
Luke 8:23-25 emphasis added
Jesus had been tested in another manner sometime prior to this. Having successfully gone through that particular trial, He was now able to rest, knowing His Heavenly Father would bring Him through this one safely also.
Through All Kinds of Hardships the Focus Was on Heaven
Looking back over the centuries, multitudes have traveled on in their journey to their resting place in heaven. Many were beaten, stoned, tortured, burned, ridiculed, imprisoned, maligned, falsely accused, and the list goes on—but they did not compromise or give up in their journey. Their focus remained on their heavenly home, knowing that this life is only temporary and all it contains will not last. Problems and trials should never keep us from wanting to go forward in our walk with God.
When We Are Weak It Is Then We Are Strong
In the beginning, it looked hopeless for Job. Yet he never threw up his arms in desperation and give up on God (although he may have wanted to concerning his so-called ‘friends’!). The apostle Paul went through all kinds of anguish, but his response was: “Most gladly therefore will I rather glory in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me. Therefore I take pleasure in infirmities, in reproaches, in necessities, in persecutions, in distresses for Christ’s sake: for when I am weak, then am I strong” (2 Corinthians 12: 9, 10).
When trying situations and circumstances come our way, let’s not be downcast or give up, but rather let’s say, in the words of the hymn writer:
My heav’nly home is bright and fair,
I feel like traveling on;
Nor pain nor death can enter there,
I feel like traveling on.
Let others seek a home below,
I feel like traveling on;
Which flames devour, or waves o’erflow,
I feel like traveling on.
The Lord has been so good to me,
I feel like traveling on;
Until that blessed home I see,
I feel like traveling on.
[Additional image credits: Featured image (when applicable) by NakNakNak from Pixabay; Opening photo by Abhishek Gaurav on Pexels]
