HER WORST DAY EVER

HER WORST DAY EVER

READ:
Job 7:11-21

I will speak in the anguish
of my spirit; I will complain
in the bitterness of my soul.
-Job 7:11

In May 2011, a young woman took cover in a bathtub during a tornado that devastated her city of Joplin, Missouri.  Her husband covered her body with his and took the blows from flying debris.  He died, and she survived because of his heroism.  She naturally wrestles with the question, "Why?"  But a year after the tornado, she said that she finds comfort because even on her worst day ever, she was loved.

When I think about "worst days ever," I think of Job right away.  A man who loved God, he lost his animals, his servants, and his 10 children in one day! (Job 1:13-19).  Job mourned deeply, and he also asked the "Why?" questions.  He cried out, "Have I sinned?  What have I done to You...?  Why have You set me as Your target?" (7:20).  Job's friends accused him of sinning and thought he deserved his difficulties, but God said of his friends:  "You have not spoken of Me what is right, as My servant Job has" (42:7).  God did not give him the reasons for his suffering, but He listened to Job and did not fault him for his questions.   God assured him of His control over everything and Job trusted Him (42:1-6).

The Lord may not give us the reasons for our trials.  But, thankfully, even on our worst day ever, we can know for sure we are loved by Him (Romans 8:35-39). -Anne Cetas

We're grateful, Father, that You know our hearts
with our pain and joy.  Thank You that You never
leave us nor forsake us, as Your Word tells
us.  Please hold us close during our trials.
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God's love does not keep us from trials,
but sees us through them.

INSIGHT
Eliphaz, Bildad, and Zophar, Job's three friends, believed that Job's suffering (Job 1-2) was caused by his sins and that he needed to repent before God could bless him again.  Eliphaz was the first to accuse Job (chs. 4-5).  Responding, Job rebutted his friend (6:1-7:10) and then complained against God (vv.11-21).  Job spoke of the futility (7:1-2), brevity (vv.7-10), and misery of life (vv.11-21).  "What is man, that You should exalt him?" (v.17) echoes Psalm 8:4, but not as a praise that God had noticed and exalted him.   Instead, Job complained that such intense divine scrutiny was a crushing burden and misery for him (Job 7:18-21).

Have a blessed day.
God Our Creator's Love Always
Unity & Peace