tough questions

It is so difficult to understand. It can be nearly impossible to explain. Sometimes (often) it seems there is no reason. But it is a part of life. Everyone, no matter who, will experience some trail, some difficult situation, some suffering, some pain, some hurt, something. No one is immune, no one is void of life's struggles.

But why? Why must we hurt, suffer, weep? Why the pain? And if God is good then why doesn't He stop the bad stuff from happening to his children?

Then the LORD asked Satan, "Have you noticed my servant Job? He is the finest man in all the earth--a man of complete integrity. He fears God and will have nothing to do with evil."

Satan replied to the LORD, "Yes, Job fears God, but not without good reason! You have always protected him and his home and his property from harm. You have made him prosperous in everything he does. Look how rich he is! But take away everything he has, and he will surely curse you to your face!"

"All right, you may test him," the LORD said to Satan. "Do whatever you want with everything he possesses, but don't harm him physically." So Satan left the LORD's presence.

Job 1:8-12

Reading on in Job you'll discover that eventually Job lost everything. E v e r y t h i n g ! His children ALL died, his possessions all destroyed, his livelihood ruined, his own health was so awful he wished that death would come upon him. And the answer to the 'why?' in Job's story, at times in our own life, may be the same. Satan clearly tells God that the only reason that Job is a faithful servant, fearing God and avoiding evil is because God has made him successful and has protected him, his family and his possessions from all harm. Satan challenges God, saying that if all Job's wealth, prosperity, health, family are taken from him, Job will surely curse God. And with that, God gives Satan the o.k. to bring on the trials and suffering in Job's life. But why did God give him the thumbs up to destroy Job?

Allow me to answer that question with another...

Would Job remain in relationship with God? Would he continue to praise God, to worship Him? Would Job continue to avoid evil and fear God, even if his life became full of suffering, weeping, trails, tribulations, pain, hurt, destruction? It was a test. Would Job pass the have-your-world-destroyed-in-front-of-your-eyes test?

And if Job passed, that is continued to praise God, to remain faithful, to continue to walk in a relationship with God, to proceed down the same path, albeit rough and difficult, with his Lord, what example would that show to those around him? What would they see?

Sometimes I think we reason that suffering in this life is the result of our great ancentor's mistake in the garden of Eden. We often are quick to determine (especially in other people's suffering) that it is the result of our own personal sin. And, yes, the Bible is clear that sin does result in suffering. Examples abound of suffering as the result of sin. We must examine our lives and be honest with the sin that is there.

Sometimes there is something to be learned, a character quality perhaps to be developed through our pain that could not be learned otherwise. Or a lesson we can learn and pass along to others who might be struggling. There are likely many other Biblical answers as to why.

But I think it's important to look at examples like Job. A child of God, a "good" guy, who lost everything and endured more hardship than most of us could ever imagine to see if he would still praise God in the storm.