Will Job trust God, or deny God in the midst of intense suffering? Job spends his time trying to figure out: "Why me? Did I do something wrong? What is God trying to teach me?" Questions that people in pain ask.
These are right questions. I believe that if we're in a fix, it's helpful to go through this list:
A. Perhaps I did something wrong. God, please search me.
Very often, it is our fault. And when we change, the situation changes. Problem solved.
B. God, are you trying to teach me something? God, please show me.
Then we get on with life & leave it to Him to show us. This often works too.
C. And then, there are those bad things that happen to good people. To children, even. And that stun you and me. And there are no answers. And it's definitely not our fault.
Job belonged to Category C. And I'm very sure that we have all belonged -- or are going to belong -- in that category, one time or other in our lives.
And my caution is, that we don't immediately lob all those who're in difficulties in Categry A. Be aware that Category C exists.Only with careful prayer & discernment & a real setting aside of our own prejudices & pet theories will we be able to be a real friend to one in need, not a Job's friend.
God chose Job as the best example of one who had selfless motivations in following Him. Satan disagrees, saying that people serve God out of self-serving motives and a cosmic struggle ensues, with Job as the guinea pig, to put it bluntly.
In the end, I believe that while it's a test of Job's faith in God, it's also about God's faith in Job. God had faith that Job would pass the test.
We could be in the difficult situation we're in right now, because God has faith that we're going to make it. Even if we don't get any answers. Just like Job.
