From the inception of the creation God values life. The whole creation is alive, vibrant, and beautiful. Day after day God makes a glorious environment, full of wonder, woven together in an extraordinary interdependence that is created to make: more life. And when all is ready, when the world is perfect and clean and good, …
But if I have learned anything as a Christian, it is that keeping a stiff upper lip simply means we have hot lava in our souls that attacks God’s love for us, our salvation in Christ, and our Holy Spirit access to help. When I finally had the courage to become vulnerable and start speaking out about our pain, two things happened: I found I was not the only one dealing with this pain, and I found blessed release in naming the name of the pain out loud.
Suffering comes to every human soul. Loss and trouble are part of life this side of eternity. But God is all about restoration.
An arbiter. An umpire. Over and over Job states that he has no one to plead his case before God, no advocate who would make his case in the cosmic court of God.
Scripture tells us two important things here: God is in control – satan can’t do anything without God allowing it; and God trusted Job to pass the test.
Job: the longest and most detailed portrait of depression in the Bible. Suicidal depression. My husband Greg said: “If you’re asking who in the Bible is most likely to jump off a cliff, it’s gotta be Job.” He’s so right. Over and over Job says he wishes he’d never been born, and begs that God …