Readings for today: Job 19-23, Acts 9:23-10:8
There is nothing worse than feeling abandoned. Nothing worse than feeling all alone. Nothing worse than feeling like those closest to you have pulled away. Those closest to you have walked away. This is especially true when you are in pain. When you are struggling with a physical or mental illness or addiction. I think of the heartbreak of this past year. Hundreds of thousands of people dying from COVID. Their pain compounded by the fact that many of them died alone. The draconian restrictions preventing so many from being at the bedside of those they loved as they passed from this life to the next. I think of the many people I know who need community to successful fight their addiction. Their isolation led to relapse. Their loneliness led to despair. Rates of substance abuse and suicide due to overdose rose dramatically.
The Bible is clear. It is not good for us to be alone. We were not meant to do this life on our own. Especially when we are suffering. Job’s words are especially heartbreaking this morning. “He has put my brothers far from me, and those who knew me are wholly estranged from me. My relatives have failed me, my close friends have forgotten me. The guests in my house and my maidservants count me as a stranger; I have become a foreigner in their eyes. I call to my servant, but he gives me no answer; I must plead with him with my mouth for mercy. My breath is strange to my wife, and I am a stench to the children of my own mother. Even young children despise me; when I rise they talk against me. All my intimate friends abhor me, and those whom I loved have turned against me. My bones stick to my skin and to my flesh, and I have escaped by the skin of my teeth. Have mercy on me, have mercy on me, O you my friends, for the hand of God has touched me! Why do you, like God, pursue me? Why are you not satisfied with my flesh?” (Job 19:13-22)
Can you imagine how it must have felt for Job to be abandoned in his hour of greatest need? Here was a man who had dedicated his life to comforting others. Dedicated his life to caring for others. He had built a reputation for godliness in his community. He was engaged. He was connected. He was faithful. But when push came to shove and the roles were reversed, he was all alone. His community failed him. His family failed him. His servants failed him. His friends failed him. Even his wife left him. He had no one. No one to comfort him. No one to help him. No one to bathe his wounds. No one to take him in. There simply is nothing worse than feeling abandoned in your hour of greatest need.
This is what makes Job’s declaration of faith even more astounding. Out of the depths of his despair, he cries, “For I know that my Redeemer lives, and at the last he will stand upon the earth. And 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.” (Job 19:25-27) He holds onto God for dear life. At the end of it all. When everything has been taken away. When all his loved ones have walked away. When he his life is full of nothing but pain and suffering. He refuses to let go of God. He refuses to relinquish his faith. No matter what happens, he will go to the grave trusting he will see God.
This raises two important questions for me this morning. First, do I have the faith of Job? If everything were taken from me, would I still believe? Would I still hold onto God? Or do I love God because of the blessings He has poured into my life? Second, do I walk away from those who are suffering? Do I pull back from those in pain? Or do I lean in? Do I remain engaged? Do I courageously and tenaciously hold onto them even if/when they try to push me away? Do I seek to comfort with the same comfort I’ve been comforted with by God? Can you imagine what would happen if the church of Jesus Christ simply made it their aim to courageously comfort those in need rather than judge or belittle or argue or abandon them? Can you imagine what would happen if we would have the courage to listen to those who are struggling, those who are in pain, rather than be so quick to speak or offer empty platitudes or unwanted advice? How often do we play the role of Job’s friends?
Readings for tomorrow: Job 24-25, Acts 10:9-48