Would We Handle It Like Job?

THU EP Reflection 082020 (Job 1:1-22; John 6:16-27)

Would we handle it? That is the question I often ask myself when I think of Job’s experiences. Sometimes in life, we have moments where obstacles or tragic events come almost at the same time. I hear in recent English that it is often referred to as double whammy! This is what happened to Job in the Bible. He was super unfortunate because bad things kept happening to him. The Bible tells us that he was being tested from above spiritually. It was not God testing him, but it was Satan, the enemy. Satan was curious to how Job was going to handle it. Even so, from this story, we learn a great deal about our life on earth. 

We obviously live and experience a share of heartbreaks. I am sure it was not God’s plan as in Job’s story. I always imagined most tragedies had something to do with our choices. I was wrong. This time with Job, there is a discussion that happened in heaven where the verdict was that he was going to be tempted, tested not because of something bad he had done, but because simply God had allowed it to happen, but the restriction was that his life would be spared. The enemy did not waste any time: He struck everything that Job loved. None of us can imagine how heartbroken this must have left him. The loss of his wife and children, all his servants, possessions is enough for anyone to lose their mind. The Bible tells us that Job never blamed God, did not complain. This is an incredible loyalty to God, a faithfulness of high caliber. God was right to trust him. Job almost sounds like a sheep led to slaughter.

Before we think this is not useful for us, let us go to the Gospel according to John. It tells us in Chapter 6 that, while the disciples were in the boat crossing the lake to go to Capernaum, it was dark and suddenly the lake became rough because a strong wind was blowing. When we are in the middle of our storms, sometimes we become unstable and tossed to and from. Situations like these have potential to disrupt our thinking and our stability. This instability of emotions all over the place can indeed make us waver in faith. We are humans after all. Job stayed constant in his faith throughout all the calamities or his double or triple whammies. We are to rely on God always. The world often thinks it is about good or bad luck. Is there anything that happens in the world by accident? 

However way anyone may want to look at it, we grow from these experiences, but they still hurt. The disciples were terrified by the experience of brushing with death by drowning. We cannot tell how we would react if (or when) faced with such circumstances, perhaps only the evidence of a picture would tell a tale. I am sure we would be embarrassed. Some of us are the sensitive type, while others are ‘toughen-up’ type! Whatever type you are, tragedies still hurt. Jesus stayed with his disciples throughout the ordeal until the end. Will I withstand the heat of the testing/temptation? Will I prevail? Will my faith prevail? Especially when our society insists that the best way is to fight for our rights, (maybe it’s not even about rights) rather than being a sheep that is obediently led to slaughter, which is a different kind of fight: A fight of faith!  I am not saying we should not seek to bring justice in the world, but we should learn from Jesus because he faced his calamities with a firm divine attitude. His fight was an example to emulate. He told all willing to listen: “My Kingdom is not of this world.” This is sufficiently informative of a different expectation from its members. Those from the Kingdom of God react differently than those of the Kingdoms of the earth. Seek the Kingdom of God first (Matt 6:33).

Jesus’ response was always characteristic of His Kingdom. Let us seriously consider Jesus’ example, ask for God’s grace to increase our faith so we can withstand our darkest hour/ our moments with tears. Jesus demonstrated that he will be with us by the way he was with his disciples. He said: “I am with you till the end of the age (Matt 28:20);…Dwell in me and I in you. (John 15: 4-6).” We are ambassadors of the Kingdom of Heaven. Sometimes we need to answer Pontius Pilate's questions with a silence. Sometimes, the world will drag us into worthless questions and discussions, but we should focus on what is eternal, our reactions should always be in relation to the Kingdom of Heaven/eternity.

Lord Jesus, Son of God, Have mercy on me, a sinner!

Guide us Lord!

Amen.