In the book of Job we are greeted by a conversation between God and Satan. The evil one is roaming the earth looking for people to turn away from the Lord. He has a conversation with God about one of God’s servants, Job. The evil one makes the claim that the only reason Job is following God is because of his prosperity. He makes the claim that if Job did not have all of this his faith would fall away.

God assures us through the book of Job that Job’s faith and our faith is not based on circumstance or on what we do or have not done but on God. The bulk of the book is Job’s friends telling him all of the things he has done wrong and that is why he is in the position he is in. These friends are dead wrong.

If Job get’s hard to read, I know it has been for me in the past. Keep this verse in mind while Job’s friends tell him all he has been doing wrong and that his life, circumstances, punishment or prosperity are in his hands.

“Oh that my words were written! Oh that they were inscribed in a book! Oh that with an iron pen and lead they were engraved in the rock forever! For I know that my redeemer lives, and at last he will stand upon the earth. After my skin has been thus destroyed, yet in my flesh I shall see God, whom I shall see for myself, and my eyes shall behold, and not another. My heart faints within me.”
– Job 19:23-27

The evil one is running around this world. Sin is a real thing. Sin and the evil one are causing confusion, destruction, and devastation. No one is exempt from suffering in this world. It will come.

In the middle of all the sin, confusion, destruction and devastation Jesus has redeemed us, is redeem us, and will come again. He is in in control of it all. He is in control of the evil and devastation in our lives just as he was in control of it in the life of Job. He did not cause it BUT he was in control of it. Knowing that God is in control of the destruction and the redemption brings us great comfort. It is not about us. It is all about Jesus and all he has done, is doing, and will do. Even the book of Job is all about Jesus and his redemptive work FOR US.

For more reading on suffering I highly recommend this book:

The problem of suffering: A Father’s Hope by Gregory P. Schulz

I had the privilege of hearing him speak and it has changed my view on suffering. I can’t explain suffering perfectly by any means but this book offered some light on the subject. If you are suffering right now know that Jesus has not abandoned you. It may hurt like h#@# but Jesus has not abandoned you.