Once upon a time there was a man named Job. One day, he had sheep, camels, donkeys, servants, children, a supportive wife, and friends who respected him. The next day, he had none of those things. His wife’s response? “Curse God and die!” (Job 2:9).
But Job responds with, “Shall we indeed accept good from God and not accept adversity?” and “The Lord gave and the Lord has taken away. Blessed be the name of the Lord” (Job 2:10, 1:21).
And in all this, Job didn’t sin or blame God.
Let me point out, he did absolutely attribute the taking to God. Like the servant who said the fire was from heaven (Job 1:16), Job knew the source of his suffering: God. And yet, even in acknowledging God’s sovereignty over his troubles, there was no blame on his lips or in his heart. That’s faith.
“In all this, Job did not sin with his lips” (Job1:22). Literally, he did not miss with his lips. He hit the nail on the head. All this adversity, from God, and what, we’re only going to accept the good stuff? Then the most incredible response ever. Job “fell to the ground and worshiped” (Job 1:20).
When we know that our suffering is from God, we have two options: blame or worship. One, we’re made to do. The other ruins us. We don’t get to choose our trials but we do get to choose our response to them, and knowing God, who is good, has brought me to this place, I can acknowledge Him as good and worship.
Excerpt from “Peace and How to Keep It.”