Leaning on Other Believers - A Deeper Dive
Scripture: Job 1:8-22 | John 16:33
Message recap
This week, we welcomed Wendy Booth to deliver the message. We appreciate all Wendy does for Ocoee Oaks, and her moving testimony was a blessing to all.
As we heard in last week’s message, we all have stinky things that happen in our lives. Fortunately, God finds a way to use those things as fertilizer. But when those stinky things involve our families, we are impacted particularly hard. As we heard in our reading this morning from the Gospel of John, Jesus promises that we are going to find ourselves in valleys from time to time:
“33 ‘I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.’”
There are many examples in the Bible of people who lived through the valleys of suffering. Last week, we touched on the struggles Joseph, Ruth, Shadrak, Mishak, and Abednego endured. One more that comes to mind when we think about bad things happening to good people is the story of Job. Through no fault of his own, he lost everything he had in a short amount of time. Initially, it was his possessions: oxen, donkeys, sheep, and camels. Along the way, invaders killed his servants. As if that wasn’t enough to endure, his children were all killed when a mighty wind swept in from the desert and destroyed the house where they had gathered for a feast.
So, how did Job respond? First, he mourned. Then, he tore his robe and shaved his head. Finally, almost surprisingly, he worshipped, saying,
“Naked I came from my mother’s womb, and naked I will depart. The Lord gave and the Lord has taken away; may the name of the Lord be praised.”
Despite everything that happened, including his own physical ailments, Job continued to trust in the Lord. Even after his wife encouraged him to curse God and die, he stood firm in his commitment, telling her that we cannot accept the good God gives us if we are unwilling to accept the troubles. Paul’s words in his letter to the Romans serve as a constant reminder that God will ultimately use the challenges we face for good.
“28 And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose.”
Job’s friends hear about his suffering, and they go to comfort him. When they arrive, they find him nearly unrecognizable. They sat with him for a week, not speaking because his suffering was so great. For many of us, this is the correct response. Sometimes, when our suffering is the greatest, we need the presence of our friends, not words. After a week, though, Job’s friends started talking. For thirty-four chapters, Job and his friends discuss his suffering. The friends are convinced Job’s troubles are all the result of some sin against God. They assume this despite knowing “there is no one on earth like him; he is blameless and upright, a man who fears God and shuns evil” (See Job 1:8). Job even made sure his children were blameless before God by making sacrifices on their behalf in case they sinned. If Job were so good, what possible sin could he have committed to cause God to punish him so harshly? As we learned last week, sometimes stinky stuff just happens.
The debates and arguments with his friends didn’t help Job. He knew the only way he would understand what happened was to talk it out with God. We might try talking to God when we’re in our personal valleys, but it may be sporadic and feel incredibly incomplete for many of us, and that’s ok.
Ultimately, Job gets his conversation with God and is reminded of God’s deity, authority, and power over creation. After a reminder of God’s character, Job is blessed by having his fortunes restored. He receives twice as much livestock as he had before. His family is restored with seven sons, three daughters, and four generations of grandchildren. The story concludes with Job dying as an old man full of years.
What are some things we can learn from the story of Job? First and foremost, we see that suffering is a way for God to display his power and glory. In the Gospel of John, we find the account of Jesus and the disciples passing a man blind from birth. The disciples, assuming the man was made blind as a punishment, ask Jesus to tell them who sinned, the man or his parents. Jesus answers,
“3 ‘Neither this man nor his parents sinned,’ said Jesus, ‘but this happened so that the works of God might be displayed in him.’”
Throughout Jesus’ ministry, he taught that suffering is never the result of God’s punishment.
We also learn from Job that God's love is revealed through seasons of trials and challenges. God was not Job’s enemy. He had a purpose and a plan, but Job simply didn’t know it. Just as God doesn’t use suffering as punishment, he doesn’t cause it either. But God will use suffering for good. In Romans chapter five, Paul describes what our suffering can produce with God’s help:
“3 Not only so, but we also glory in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance; 4 perseverance, character; and character, hope.”
He makes it clear that the community of Christians should take responsibility for each other. Prayer is powerful and effective. God hears and responds. When experiencing times of trial, we should be confident in reaching out to others to pray for us because we are often spiritually weak at that moment.
There is a misconception by some that only certain people are called or gifted to be intercessory prayer warriors. We all know people who seem to have a special, intimate connection with God and are relentless in praying for others. The truth is we are all called to pray for others. It’s not a choice; it is our privilege. Whether we believe it or not, we are all equipped to be prayer warriors on behalf of others.
Amazing things happen when we pray for others. We participate in God’s work as we emulate Jesus. Prayer was central to Jesus’ ministry. Praying for others allows us to share their burdens and stop focusing solely on our troubles. Intercessory prayer demonstrates humility. We also learn to recognize the power of prayer when we see how the lives of others are changed.
Author E. M. Bounds wrote,
“Prayer should not be regarded as a duty which must be performed, but rather as a privilege to be enjoyed, a rare delight that is always revealing some new beauty.”
We are all called to pray unceasingly for all of God's people. As a community of faith, we are here to help and support one another.
The Wisdom of Silence
The story of Job offers a valuable lesson in how to support someone struggling. Or, more accurately, how not to respond. It’s true that when his friends learn of Job’s plight, they come to be with him. When they arrive, they remain silent because they see that his suffering is very great (see Job 2:13). For seven days and seven nights, Job’s friends offer support through silence. But then, they began to speak. The silence is broken with foolish words. Job’s response is a cautionary reminder we can all take to heart when we are offering comfort to someone in pain:
“If only you would be altogether silent! For you, that would be wisdom.”
We’ve all had the experience of saying something in an attempt to comfort or ease someone’s pain and immediately regretting it. We respond with good intentions, but our words end up more hurtful than helpful. Sometimes, being present or offering to pray for the person can be all that is needed. Our silence can be a reminder of God’s constant presence in our lives.
In the Book of Proverbs, we’re told,
“Even fools are thought wise if they keep silent, and discerning if they hold their tongues.”
The wise and intelligent person has self-control (17:27) and is interested in understanding more than talking (18:2). In their attempt to provide comfort, Job's friends misrepresent God and make false assumptions about Job’s character. They believe God is punishing Job for his sin, but they are wrong. In our attempts to explain why bad things happen, we tend to be rash with our words or talk too much when we rely on our own wisdom. Sometimes, we are excessive with Bible passages; worse yet, we might misuse a passage we don’t fully understand.
It may seem counterintuitive, but God can use our silence to speak volumes. Our silence demonstrates our trust in God. Be patient and be still before God. He will use you and your words in his perfect timing.