“I loathe my very life, therefore I will give free rein to my complaint and speak out in the bitterness of my soul.”
(Job 10:1 NIV)
Job was hurting. More than just sad, by today’s terms, he was near-suicidal. He had already stated: it would have been better if he’d never been born. (Job 3) Historically we site Job with tremendous patience and long-suffering, but a deep dive into his 42 chapters and we see the man of God wrestled.
I can relate to Job. I’ve had a season where I loathed my life. I’ve crawled through a sorrowful stretch where I just ached for God to take me home. I begged Him to take up my frame like a tent off the earth. To His glorious credit: He didn’t. Like our dear Job, I stayed in the conversation. I kept my eyes locked on God. And eventually, things got better.
If Job had gotten his way, if God had blown in and carried him off, he would have missed his latter days. The final six verses of his book are nothing short of amazing and Job, in his human wisdom, would have blotted them out altogether. I know that is true in my story, too. If I had gotten my way, I would have missed the miraculous.
The trouble is, it’s hard to imagine anything better when we are at the very bottom. It’s tough to believe that God can redeem a hollowed out life, that restoration is even possible, let alone probable. That’s why, when we are clutched in the grip of hardship, we must cling to His promises over our feelings. Our God does impossible things all the time. We can trust Him to act within His character and His character is unfailing.
The picture I’m sharing today is from Ciaphas’ house in Israel. This is believed to be the pit that our Lord and Savior was held in while he awaited trial with Pilate. I stood there, in that pit, and wondered if Jesus felt Himself to be at the very bottom. Did He believe His Father could redeem these most awful moments? Did His sovereignty afford Him a far better view of eternity?
Jesus was eventually dragged from that pit to the cross. And then He descended to the depths of hell to accomplish something for us that we could not accomplish on our own. I’m so grateful that our Savior didn’t quit. He somehow stayed the course through the deepest, darkest suffering to make a way for us. In response, what might we endure for Him?
“The Lord blessed the latter part of Job’s life more than the former.” (Job 42:12 NIV)
Lord, please help us when we’ve hit bottom. Lock eyes with us and keep us in the conversation. Persuade us of Your power over the impossible. Help us see Your character triumph over our situation. Amen.