4 Truths from the Book of Job

During the first part of 2024, a metaphorical tornado ripped up just about every area of my life. From ministry obstacles to material losses to relationship hardships, I learned that God doesn't always provide answers to my "Why, God?" questions. And yet, He does expect me to trust Him.

Can you relate to feeling like your life is completely out of control? Have you ever had a hard time trusting God? If so, I invite you to investigate the book of Job in the Bible. It's the story of a man God describes as "blameless and upright," yet God allows him to suffer tremendous tragedies—things that were truly unwarranted due to anything Job had done.

We can learn a lot of truths about God, our faith journey, and suffering through Job's story. Let's take a look...

Truth #1: Satan cannot touch us without God's permission.

"I know that you can do all things, and that no purpose of yours can be thwarted." —Job 42:2

In Job 1:6-12, Satan (Hebrew for "accuser") approaches God in what appears to be a weird courtroom setting in heaven¹. Satan says he's been "patrolling" the earth and watching everything going on (v. 7). God asks him if he has noticed His servant Job, a man of integrity who is blameless and upright, who fears God and turns away from evil (v. 8).

Satan says he has and then accuses Job of only fearing God because he has been protected and blessed—that Job will curse Him if God takes away his prosperity (Job 1:9-11). When Satan incites God to destroy all Job has, God allows Satan to flip Job's idyllic life upside-down. In just one day, Job's livestock, servants, and children are all violently killed (Job 1:13-19). Can you even imagine?

Yet we know that God is aware of what's happening as this story unfolds, and He won't allow Satan to do anything that goes beyond what He will allow.

Truth #2: When we don't have control, we can trust God does.

"Naked I came from my mother's womb, and naked shall I return. The Lord gave, and the Lord has taken away; blessed be the name of the Lord." —Job 1:21

When someone or something we love is suddenly lost—whether through break up or divorce, a sudden move, or even death—it's easy to freak out and get angry at God for allowing it to happen. It can feel like your life is out of control. And often, it's definitely out of OUR control.

But the Bible makes it clear that GOD has control, because He is sovereign. That means He's in full control of everything, including your life—even if you feel powerless (Proverbs 19:21). Even after Job begins to suffer incredible losses, he mourns and cries and still blesses the name of the Lord (Job 1:21).

Truth #3: God's ways are higher than our ways.

"Should we accept only good things from the hand of God and never anything bad?" —Job 2:10 (NLT)

When Satan comes to God once again, God defends Job's good character, calling him a blameless man of integrity (Job 2:3). But Satan continues his accusations, saying that Job will surely curse God if his physical body is harmed (Job 2:4-5). From our perspective, it may be surprising to see that, once again, God allows Satan to continue persecuting this poor man, only requiring that Satan spares Job's life (Job 2:6).

Yes, suffering and misery are undesirable. It's OK to acknowledge that, and even Job voices that his sorrow is justified (Job 6). Yet God's love for us remains steady, dependable, and unchanging (Psalm 86:15; Romans 8:37-39). When we don't understand why we're suffering or when we feel abandoned, we're allowed to feel sorrow and to grieve losses—while also remembering that God is sovereign, loves us, and has greater purposes for our lives than this momentary strife (Isaiah 55:8).

Truth #4: When our support system fails, God is still there.

"One should be kind to a fainting friend, but you accuse me without any fear of the Almighty." —Job 6:14 (NLT)

In his greatest time of need, Job's own wife wants him to curse God and die (Job 2:9), and his friends tell him that all this tribulation is his own fault (Job chapters 13-14, 15-21, 22-28). Have you ever experienced accusation or outright abandonment from loved ones when you're really going through it? Did you wonder if you were somehow at fault? Or want to curse God for injustice? It's natural to want a reason, but it's not helpful to start blaming God for everything.

Even when we feel alone, God is still there. Even if it feels that God is silent, He responds to every cry and prayer. Whether or not it's the answer we're hoping for is up to God. His work in our lives is always for ultimate good (Romans 8:28) and for His glory. We can trust that He will always respond to our cries for help in accordance with His good and perfect will.

Jesus understands the mindset of not wanting to experience pain. Just before His arrest, Jesus prayed three times, "My Father! If it is possible, let this cup of suffering be taken away from me. Yet I want your will to be done, not mine" (Matthew 26:39; Matthew 26:42). Though He asked for a reprieve from what was to come, Jesus humbly gave the caveat of "if it is possible." If His suffering was a part of God's will, then He was willing to submit to God's will—and so should we.

REFERENCES: 1. BibleProject Guide: The Book of Job. https://bibleproject.com/guides/book-of-job/

ALSO SEE:

• More Truths from the Book of Job (part 2)
• How much power does Satan have?
• What is spiritual warfare?
• Is it wrong to blame God?
• Is it OK to question God?
• Why does God allow innocent people to suffer?
• Why does God allow sickness?
• Why isn't God answering my prayer?
• What does it mean to surrender to God?
• Is it true that everything happens for a reason?
• Why do bad things happen?
• What does it mean that God is sovereign?
• Why do I feel like i will never be good enough for God?
• Why me, God?