(October 18, 2009)

How many have ever heard the saying What goes around comes around? What happens if it doesn't come around? It's something that we don't understand on earth. Our internal belief is that good people are rewarded and bad people will suffer and be punished. But if that gets turned upside down, how do you react? What happens to our faith when this happens? Our faith is strong when things go great. But so often, if our faith is tested, our internal belief system can't handle it.

The Book of Job puts this internal belief system to the test. The integral question here is What did I do to deserve this? Job is a prosperous, God-fearing man. Satan is so often viewed as the evil guy with the pitchfork, but in the Book of Job, he's the prosecuting attorney. Satan tells God that Job has everything, provided by God, and he asks that God test Job's faith. First, all of Job's flocks are destroyed. Then, his servants are killed. After that, his children are killed. Then, Job is given open sores and spends all of his time picking off his scabs. However, Job never sins, but he does question. He asks Why me? and Does God really care?

In Job 38, God is bringing Job down to a place of submission. He tells Job to take it like a man. He asks Job where he was when God created the heavens and the earth. He pointed out that Job is nowhere to be found when God calls in the morning and calls in the night. God asserts Himself as the one that knows all and that Job has a lack of understanding. His lack of understanding is never answered by God. See, God is designed to know all and we are not. We have to come to terms with that. We have boundaries and limits. He does not.

God is omniscient, omnipresent and omnipotent at the same time. God created everything.

In Job 40:4, Job said "I am unworthy--how can I reply to you?" He finally realized that he won't ever realize why?

Suffering isn't just about us. Our hardships aren't just about us. We need to ask What is God is trying to do through me and in me by what's being done to me? Get to the point that you know that God's in control; you are the creature and He is The Creator. Trust God's Will for your life. Before we start to question God, we need to ask questions of ourselves. Keep the faith. Be careful of the decisions you might make while lacking faith. Sometimes you have to wrestle with your faith to deepen your faith.

- Jon Bruney