Title: Job and Paul; A Study in Contrasts / Topic: Suffering

Today's Reading: Job 41; Job 42; 2 Corinthians 1; 2 Corinthians 2

Scripture: 2 Corinthians 1:8-10
8 We do not want you to be uninformed, brothers, about the hardships we suffered in the province of Asia. We were under great pressure, far beyond our ability to endure, so that we despaired even of life. 9 Indeed, in our hearts we felt the sentence of death. But this happened that we might not rely on ourselves but on God, who raises the dead. 10 He has delivered us from such a deadly peril, and he will deliver us. On him we have set our hope that he will continue to deliver us,

Observation: Paul and his companions suffered greatly; so much so that they despaired even of life. It reminds me of what Job went through. Job started out in his suffering with great trust in God, but as time went on he succumbed to despair and depression and then blamed God as being unfair. He stated it was of no use to serve God because the same fate could befall the righteous as befell the wicked. Paul, on the other hand, when the trials he was under got so bad as to cause him to despair of life, identified correctly the reason for the suffering, “But this happened that we might not rely on ourselves but on God”. He understood that God was the only one who could deliver them.

Application: Suffering, especially when it is for long periods of time, can wear on us emotionally, spiritually and physically until we do reach a point of despair. Despair is very dangerous. It is what leads many to commit suicide or to go on homicidal rampages or to slowly poison themselves with drugs or alcohol. We need to take a lesson from Paul and Job. Complaining against God and blaming him does nothing to relieve suffering---in fact, it increases hopelessness. We need to choose to control our thoughts and rely more on God because we know he is the only one that can deliver us, as Paul did. Then and only then does our suffering produce something beautiful in our lives. We grow to rely on God more and we also become those who have increased compassion for others and a greater ability to comfort those who are in the middle of great trials.

Prayer: Father, thank you for the lessons of both Job and Paul. I don't understand why we have to go through some of the hard times that we do; it is an unfathomable mystery to me. But I do know that we will go through such difficulties so whether or not I understand the reason, I want to respond to suffering in such a way that I become a better person. I want my troubles to build me not break me. The only way for that to happen is to trust in you and depend on your hand to deliver me. Thank you that you love me and will care for me through anything.
This I pray in Jesus' name, Amen.