Have you ever gone down in the depths with someone? The instinct for us at that time is to rescue them from their awful situation. We think that we sure would not like to be in their shoes so we will do something active to save them. Unfortunately, when someone is feeling so terrible that it seems like their spirit has totally left them, it is hard for us to infuse spirit in them. It often takes the Holy Spirit to bring them back alive.
In chapter seven Job reflects this lifelessness. He says, “I loathe my life; I would not live forever. Let me alone, for my days are a breath.” (Job 7:16) Bildad responds by encouraging Job to hang in there and he will be blessed, but Job cannot hear it. “See, God will not reject a blameless person…He will fill our mouth with laughter.”
In response Job goes lower, “I am blameless; I loathe my life.” It is a little like in the middle of a discussion when your bestie encourages you to cheer up and you say “it is easy for you to say. You don’t have all my problems.” Job then becomes prophetically wise, “If only I had an umpire (a mediator) between God and me, who might stand up for me.” (Job 9:33)
One thing I love about Job is his intuitive understanding that if there was someone who could stand up for him before an Almighty God, he would be alright. Later in Scripture we have such a One, Jesus, the Son of God, who stands between a righteous God and improves our standing with grace.
I know there are many folks who are getting low right now. We have been riding the roller coaster with the coronavirus, yet alone if individual hardships have affected you. When we get depressed, it is always alright to ask God “why?” But ultimately it is so much better to say that whether I get answers or not, Jesus is on my side. Everything will be alright.
Let us pray.
Help me to not just act out of feelings, but to have faith. When I enter the darkness, send the light to me so that I can find my way back to you. Amen.
Pastor Roger Black
Additional Reading: Job 8-10
