Job 30

“I call out to You God, but You don’t answer me; I stand up to plead but You just look at me. You have turned cruelly against me; with Your powerful hand You keep persecuting me. You snatch me up on the wind and make me ride it; You toss me about in the tempest. For I know that you will bring me death, the house assigned to everyone living.” Job 30:20-23 (CJB)

One of the hardest things for followers of Jesus to comprehend is the problem of pain and hardship in the lives of believers. It is easy to take the stance of Job’s friends whenever non-believers suffer. Perhaps we could say they earned it. But what about the suffering of the righteous? Is God not paying attention? Does He not have the power to save? Or worse, does He not exist after all? These questions can go through the minds of even the most ardent followers of Jesus when serious trials come upon them.

While it is unimaginable for me to answer the “why” of everyone’s individual troubles, at least it is comforting to know that Jesus can relate to whatever pain you may be going through. Job had it bad - but Jesus had it worse. This is primarily because Satan was ordered to stop short of killing Job. With Jesus, Satan was permitted to go all the way. Job may have felt close to the edge, but Jesus got pushed over it! In those final moments on the cross, Jesus cried out with words that seemed to come from Job’s own mouth.  

“Now from the sixth hour darkness fell upon all the land until the ninth hour. About the ninth hour Jesus cried out with a loud voice, saying, ‘Eli, Eli, lama sabachthani?’ that is, ‘My God, My God, why have You forsaken Me?’ Matthew 27:45-46 (NASB)

“Why?” It is not as if Jesus did not know God’s plan of salvation or His role in the salvation of mankind. You see, as Jesus was paying a debt He did not owe, He was also demonstrating the response (to God) of all who would die apart from His atonement. Furthermore, when we analyze the psalm Jesus quoted at that moment, we recognize His cry was also a song of hope, of enduring to the end. It was a hope based on the testimony of God’s Word concerning His faithfulness throughout the generations.

“My God, my God, why have You forsaken me? Far from my help are the words of my groaning. My God, I cry out by day, but You do not answer; And by night, but I have no rest. Yet You are holy, You who are enthroned upon the praises of Israel. In You our fathers trusted; They trusted and You rescued them. To You they cried out and they fled to safety; In You they trusted and were not disappointed.” Psalm 22:1-5 (NASB)

Believer, are you suffering at the moment, wondering, “Why, God?” It is a logical human response. But be encouraged! Even if all hope seems lost and your present situation carries you to the grave, God’s promise of eternity with Him in Heaven endures. It was true for those believers who came before you and will be true for you.