I cry to you for help and you do not answer me; I stand, and you only look at me. You have turned cruel to me (Job 30:20-21).These words came out of the mouth of the man God considered the most blameless and upright on earth at the time (Job 1:8).
Thank you, God, for these words! Thank you that the Bible is so guileless. It says it like it is, and sometimes just what it feels like. Most of its heroes are unvarnished and clay-footed. Sometimes they wonder if you’re cruel. That’s a mercy to all of us shortsighted, weak, doubting, clay-footed stumblers.
There’s hope for us.
Can you identify with Job? You cry out to God in your affliction and you see nothing change. It seems like he’s just standing there watching you writhe. It feels cruel.
But this is not, in fact, true. What is true is that God is doing far more in our affliction than we know.
For Job, he did not know that he was putting Satan to shame by trusting in God despite his desolate confusion. He did not know that his experience would encourage millions for millennia. And like Job, we do not know what mind-blowing designs God has in store for what may feel unbearable and appear cruel today.
But we do know this: God was answering Job when it seemed he wasn’t. And God was remembering David when David cried, “Will you forget me forever?” (Psalm 13:1). And when Jesus cried, “My God, My God, why have you forsaken me?” (Matthew 27:46), God had turned his face away from our sin, only to raise his Son from the dead to undying, unsurpassed, and eternal glory.
Your suffering may be inscrutable today. But in reality it is preparing for you “an eternal weight of glory beyond all comparison” (2 Corinthians 4:17). Take heart and hold on.
And after you have suffered a little while, the God of all grace, who has called you to his eternal glory in Christ, will himself restore, confirm, strengthen, and establish you (1 Peter 5:10).
Friday, June 24, 2011
Feels Cruel
Jon Bloom post: I Cry to You and You Do Not Answer Me
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2 comments:
Interesting that this post comes along right now. We were just discussing "being angry at God" in the lady's class the other night. While I think God totally allows us to be angry at Him and it's part of a healing, growing process, it seemed as if some believed that it was wrong to be angry at God.
My view of God sees Him as a parent. As a parent, I discipline my children. And I allow them to be angry at me when I do. Their anger doesn't change my course of action because I have the understanding that there is a goal in mind of the person that I want them to become. But I understand their anger is part of the process. If they wallow too long, I remind them that they're the child and I'm the parent but, it is a legitimate feeling and I feel like if I make them feel like it's not okay to be angry, there could be detrimental effects. While they might not understand that the discipline is good for them, the hope is that in time, they will see that it is out of love and to stop them from actions that may not be good for them.
A problem would arise if that anger developed into bitterness and resentment. And, in turn, they were longer able to be shaped by my discipline.
It seems to me that feeling like you could only express emotions that are positive couldn't possibly result in a real relationship. To me a real relationship with anyone involves gratefulness, anger, happiness, etc... But ultimately, a love that trusts that the other person wants you to be a better person, which is the thing that moves you through those emotions to joy which is something more permanent than an emotion.
And the greatest danger I see is that withholding a part of yourself in a relationship with God, and not being able to work through those feelings of anger where they belong, could result in just plain bitterness.... with everything...
Good thoughts! Thanks for sharing.
Jim
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