We like to explain suffering away with verses, from the book of the God who made suffering itself. Verses like Romans 8:28, we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love Him, who have been called according to His purpose. Verses like Jeremiah 29:11, For I know the plans I have for you, declares the LORD, plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.
These verses are comforting, no question. But they're a windbreaker in sub-zero weather: only good for a few minutes, and you're cold once again. We come back to the same question we asked before the cliche was delivered: Why does God let bad things happen?
Job spends the greater part of the book that bears his name lamenting the hand he's been dealt. His plate is more than full, and he has dealt with heart-wrenching pain and sorrow. It's that praise-God-I'm-not-Job kind of suffering, the kind of suffering that breeds gratitude because at least we're not as bad off as that guy over there. At the same time, we can connect with what Job is feeling. We've all been there.
Job fervently questions God about his suffering, completing the cycle from anger to sadness to bitterness and back to anger once again. The most appalling thing about finishing Job was I got no answers. As a journalism student, I've been trained to understand the best answers. The best answers are quick, concise and accurate. Give me the answer, in the shortest possible form, and give it to me now. Job teaches us that God has little in common with the way modern news is delivered.
God offers little practical comfort. But what He offers is great beyond our own comprehension.
Job 38 is God's first appearance. "Who is this that darkens my counsel with words without knowledge?" God asks. The rest of the book is spent explaining God's power. It is bigger than our humanity can understand. God, as He himself explains, knows even where the lightning is dispersed. This is the real power of the God who made everything.
That's just it -- God made everything. Everything we like, everything we don't. All of it is His. Job 41:11: Everything under heaven belongs to me.
It is easy to see Job's frustration. We all have a certain degree of that frustration in our own hearts too. Why does God let bad things happen? I'm not alone in wondering. The answer isn't cut and dry. The answer is messy, and it starts with the understanding that we'll never understand.
As the pastor at my church in Chicago once said, God is God and I am not. This is easy to blog about, easy to verbalize, but hard to cement to my heart. God is bigger than big and His plan is bigger than big. God tells Job that He gives flight to hawks, gives a horse its strength. And I gave myself a pat on the back for only pressing snooze twice this morning.
God is big. Suffering is big. God makes it start and God makes it stop. Sometimes, the best comfort is to trust in the only One who fully understands it.
Then Job replied to the LORD: "I know that you can do all things; no plan of yours can be thwarted. You asked, 'Who is this that obscures my counsel without knowledge?' Surely I spoke of things I did not understand, things too wonderful for me to know.
- Job 42:1-3
1 comment:
Love this Sarah. You are SO insightful!
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