Lessons from the Grief of Job (Part 3) - What She Said Part 14 - Week 5 Day 7

TODAY'S TREASURE

Who hath put wisdom in the inward parts? Or who hath given understanding to the heart?

Job 38:36 KJV

Transcript

Lessons from the Grief of Job (Part 3)

Colette Fabry, Guest Writer

Today’s Treasure

Who hath put wisdom in the inward parts? Or who hath given understanding to the heart?

Job 38:36 KJV

At first glance, Job seems to be at the center of his own story— a man marked by immense suffering and loss.  However, a closer look reveals the true hero of not only Jobs' story, but of every story in the Bible: God. By focusing on Him, we gain valuable insights not only for navigating grief but for all our earthly days.

It's tempting to focus on Jobs' deep sadness and the unfairness of his trial.  Those things pull us in, and it's hard to look away.  We could dwell on how those around him failed him.  Job had spent his life helping widows, the fatherless, and anyone in need. Yet when he needed support, those he had once helped were nowhere to be found.  His three friends, who showed up to comfort him, ended up offering misguided counsel, only adding to his burdens.  

We could also dissect each tragedy: the loss of his children, his livestock, his wealth, his health.  Job lost nearly everything —everything but his life and his faith.  It required effort and determination to hold onto his faith, especially amid confusion. What sustained him was his focus on God's character, regardless of how he felt. 

Imagine God's delight when He described Job as “faithful, blameless and upright,” declaring there was no one like him on the earth.  God knew all along that he could trust Job to trust Him.  Jobs' story was destined to become a timeless testament to God's sovereignty and kindness.  It demonstrates God's ability to restore and reward those from whom Satan has stolen and to bring beauty from ashes. 

Certainly, Job endured real and painful losses.  The most significant was the separation from his children for the rest of his life.  Yet, with an eternal perspective, this separation becomes temporary grief.  God created us with eternal souls.  Though painful, all death and loss will one day be no more. Through it all, God moved as a skilled physician, healing Jobs' broken heart.  

When we focus on God throughout Jobs' story, our perspective shifts.  We see how profound beauty can come from horrible ugliness.  In an extraordinary act of divine presence, God spoke directly to Job, offering a description of Himself that no one else had ever heard.  Through this, we get a glimpse into God's character— as Redeemer, Rescuer, and Savior.  

This perspective also reveals who was truly behind Job's suffering: God did not inflict these hardships on Job— Satan did.  Throughout the ordeal, God watched closely, refining Job’s faith and drawing him into a deeper relationship with Him. Job experienced God more intimately and uniquely than anyone before.  He heard God's voice and came to understand that God knew him completely—his name, thoughts, words, and heart. 

One beautiful fulfillment of Job’s prayers came when God granted his request to have his words preserved forever.  When Job asked for this, he felt all alone, but God's faithfulness is a reminder that He was there and listening.  Job longed for his story to be etched with an iron pen, and God made it so. Generations have read Job’s story, a testament to God's promise and power. 

In the end, God restored all that had been stolen from Job.  In fact, his latter days were more blessed than the former.  Job's story teaches us an important lesson: while it is easy to focus on the darkness in our trials, healing comes when we fix our eyes on our eternal God. 

When Job finally surrendered—acknowledging God's holiness, admitting that he could never fully understand God's ways, and praying for his friends—his captivity ended. It was in that moment of submission to and recognition of God's greatness that his trial was officially finished. God's hedge of protection surrounded him again, and his story turned from tragedy to triumph.

LIFE-GIVING ENCOURAGEMENT 

If you are facing trials, I encourage you to focus on the true star of your story—God.  Fix your eyes on what is eternal, on His promises of the unshakable truth, that you can trust Him to work all things for your good and His glory. 

PRAYER

Father, will You reveal Your beautiful goodness in the middle of sorrow to those who are having a hard time seeing it?  Will You reveal Your character to those who are hurting?  Will You bring healing to the broken-hearted today?