September 8

Job 2:10 Shall we accept good from God, and not trouble?

This is the week we remember 9-11. Inevitably the “WHY” questions will be raised again. “Why did this happen?” “Why us?” “Why didn’t God do something that day?” “Why was God silent?” 3,000 innocent people lost their lives that fateful day eight years ago. It was a horrible day in the history of our country. And God will be put on trial once more. What is our response to the “WHY” trial that will occur again?

The problem of evil in world is still a perplexing one. The story of Job is one that attempts to answer that issue. Even though the “WHY” question will not be answered by the end of the book, we will receive some hints of how to respond to the evil that is found in our world.

The first hint is that evil and terrible things happen to good people. In the first chapters we see a man who is described by God as blameless and upright. He is singled out by God when Satan argues that Job only believes in God because God has blessed him. Satan argues that believers do not have a free will; they only love God when he becomes a “Sugar Daddy” and gives them all good things in life. The reality is that God is not on trial in this story; it is Job and his faith that are on trial. What will Job do? Will he curse God if the beautiful life is taken away?

So God permits Satan to attack Job. In a single day sudden tragedies strip Job of wealth and family.

And we respond by yelling.... at the top of our lungs, “This is not FAIR!!!” And the truth is life is not fair. Cancer is not fair. Lyme disease is not fair. Cerebral palsy is not fair. Wheelchairs are not fair. Hunger and poverty are not fair. Unemployment is not fair. Miscarriages are not fair. Infertility is not fair.

Job’s story is our story. Do we love God only because he is “useful” to us or do we love God because he is “beautiful?” Kathie and I have faced this trial several times in our lives. When we were first married we desired to have a large family. God blessed us with Jeremy in 1980. But when we tried to have another baby we experienced several years of infertility. After seeing several doctors they told us we wouldn’t be able to have any other children. What is amazing is that the same week we received that news Kathie was pregnant with our second son, Nathan. We believe both of our sons are miracle children. After Nathan's birth we started a long and painful process of infertility testing and surgeries. Month after month the answer was no. Finally after several years the doctors placed us in the category "Unexplained.” In reflection those first years were years of living with a wounded heart but then my heart became bitter against God. I had failed to love God simply because of his beauty; I was a lover of the “Sugar Daddy” God. After realizing the shallowness of my faith I repented and said to God, “What you want for my life is what I want.” This allowed God to move us to considering the most wonderful experience of adopting our beautiful daughter Jenelle.

Your faith is on trial today. Do you love God because he is “useful” to you or do you love Him because he is “beautiful?” We do have a choice. This choice doesn’t ease the pain or exempt us from trials but it does bring healing. Don't let the disappointments of life cloud your vision of Jesus. Jesus is with you in the midst of all the pain. Love him with all your heart.

God hath not promised, skies always blue, Flower strewn pathways, all our lives through
God hath not promised, sun without rain, Joy without sorrow, peace without pain.
But God hath promised, strength for the day, Rest for the labor, light for the way
Grace for the trials, help from above, Unfailing sympathy, undying love.