This entry is part of a comment-respond to a friend's blog on Job:
Job 1:20 Then Job arose and tore his robe and shaved his head and fell on the ground and worshiped. 21And he said, "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."
Yep! the book of Job is difficult and foreign to us and its lessons are definitely a struggle!
Job accepted his suffering worshipfully. We know, that doesn't for a moment mean he never asked a question or argued - to the contrary! Of course, neither does it mean Job's suffering did not hurt very badly.
Five years ago Gordon and I could never have dreamed of responding worshipfully to "big" suffering - until our Michael died of cancer. Strengthened by the security in God's sovereignty and the comfort in His compassion, we have learned, by deliberate, real faith to let God be God in every event of our lives, even when we don't understand.
We discovered that worshipful response to suffering has nothing to do with super duper faith or shallow pain. A worshipful response to suffering has everything to do with our trustworthy Lord Jesus Christ & Heavenly Father and those fabulous present and ultimate promises.
Do you know, that Gordon and I were singing in church "Blessed be Your Name" by Matt Redman, the tears streaming down our faces, feeling so weak and yet worshipping the God who gave and who take away. All pure grace.
We're sure many, many Christians respond just like Job did - even though it is a mighty struggle and it may take time - and found God to be so gracious and worthy!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7Qp11X6LKYY&feature=related
