Human suffering is real and the book of Job was written to help us know that there is hope in our hours of despair. The apostle Paul also had his hours of human suffering that he called his “thorn in the flesh” and when he pleaded with the Lord for them to depart the Lord responded, “My grace is sufficient.” 2 Corinthians 12:7-10
God’s grace is the remedy for our hours of human suffering. It is God’s gift. It is not earned it is God’s unmerited favor. It is God’s way of saying, “I am here in the hours of despair.” It is God’s way of letting us know that our faith in Him does make a difference. Ephesians 2:8-10
Satan doesn’t want us to be benefited from God’s grace so he hinders us in every way possible including human suffering. He knows that this will cause many to “Curse God and die!” He also knows that this will cause even some who are faithful to abandon their faith in God’s grace and be “shipwreck.”
Job poses a question for all when facing their hours of human suffering. “Shall we indeed accept good from God, and shall we not accept adversity?” Job knew what it was like to be thrown from the top of the mountain into the valley of despair but “Job did not sin with his lips.” And in the end, “the Lord blessed the latter days of Job more than his beginning…”
Job teaches us that life presents us with many experiences. Some are good and some are bad. Some are bitter and some are sweet. Some are blessings and some are a curse. There are some that bring us healing and there are some that bring us hurt.
Job addresses real life issues. His life went from the best of circumstances to the very worst. He learned in his hours of human suffering that evil is actively present wanting to do everything possible to keep us from God’s grace. He also learned during his hours of human suffering that even family and friends can fall victim to the devil’s scheming. He also learned from his own personal experience that he had deal with anger, disappointment, frustration, and questions.
The book of Job presents the interplay of dreams, reality, innocence, maturity, knowledge, ignorance, tragedy, and victory for us to discern. It presents the inequalities and injustice of life that puzzle humanity regarding human suffering. And as we search it for answers it provides us with the only source able to aid us and that source is the grace of God for when we put our faith in God’s grace we will discover “the peace of God that surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.” Philippians 4:7
Now don’t get the wrong impression I don’t want you to think that I have all the answers because I don’t because just like you I am just a “weary pilgrim.” But like Job I will point you to the source that has carried me through my hours of human suffering and that is God’s grace!
About the author:
Don and his wife Brenda have been married 48 years. They have two married sons Jason/Crista and Nicholas/Heather and four grandsons Luke, Ryker, Blake and Drew. Don is a graduate of the Gateway School of Preaching, Fairview Heights, IL, the Bristol Roads School of Biblical Studies, Flint, MI and he has a bachelor’s degree in religious education from Michigan Christian College. He has been preaching since 1979. He has preached at Pacific, MO; Howell, MI; Arnold, MO; Festus, MO; Dexter, MO; and De Soto, MO where he has served since 2007. He also serves the congregation as one of the elders. Don has done campaigns and meetings in several states and mission work in Cuba, India, and Jamaica. Don refers to himself as a “Minister” because he loves ministering to others and helping them learn about Jesus and growing in their relationship with Him.
De Soto church of Christ 