Mourn with those who mourn.....

 

Good morning! It's Saturday!

"Mourn with those who mourn.” (Romans 12:15) When we are willing to enter into the pain of a suffering friend, we follow the example of Jesus, who came to bear our pain and suffer in our place. Our help to those in need is ultimately a way we serve Christ (Matthew 25:40).

Ever wonder the workings of God? Ponder his ways? How did I get here? What is he trying to show me? Why revisit pain and suffering?

It is no surprise to God, that reading through the Bible with my church family, has landed me in the book of Job at this particular time of year. Six years ago I was just beginning what was a long journey through the book of Job. Pain and suffering drew me there. Commiserating with him in his tremendous losses, understanding his great sorrow, feeling his extreme pain, thankful for friends that sat with me as his friends did.....until, for Job, things went south... thankfully that was not my experience.

"When Job’s three friends, Eliphaz the Temanite, Bildad the Shuhite and Zophar the Naamathite, heard about all the troubles that had come upon him, they set out from their homes and met together by agreement to go and sympathize with him and comfort him. When they saw him from a distance, they could hardly recognize him; they began to weep aloud, and they tore their robes and sprinkled dust on their heads. Then they sat on the ground with him for seven days and seven nights. No one said a word to him, because they saw how great his suffering was."
Job 2:11‭-‬13

How precious are friends who sit with you day and night...who said not a word... because the suffering was so great. I remember well the panic I felt when "shift changes" would leave me alone for even a short time, though rare, it was so scary. Looking back it really was their physical presence and the absence of being alone that comforted me... because words were rarely spoken. I am still so grateful, to this day, that I was loved and cared for to an immeasurable degree. That they accepted God's call to love me.....and love me they did without expecting anything in return.....for I had nothing to give.....

So Job's friends gave him seven days and seven nights. "Mourn with those who mourn"....and they did. This was a proper response.

And then silence, for Job and for me, was broken (this is after God's provision for getting through funeral planning, memorial services and three hours of hearing, "I'm so sorry for your loss..he was a great man"). The wailing let loose, tears FLOWED like a dam that had burst. The numbness had worn off.....I didn't realize what a gift it was to feel absolutely nothing. The waves of remembering took hold and the reality of forever threatened to strangle me. Such was the beginning of the continual battering of my very soul.....I had never felt such pain to that degree and pray I never do again.

The LORD is near to the brokenhearted and saves the crushed in spirit. Psalm 34:18

I was brokenhearted....I was crushed.....

Though I knew well what the Lord promised I could not find him. Another devastating blow.

"What I feared has come upon me; what I dreaded has happened to me. I have no peace, no quietness; I have no rest, but only turmoil.”
Job 3:25‭-‬26

Turmoil - a state of great disturbance, confusion, or uncertainty.

And I,  just like Job, began to pour my heart out. My lament was made known to God. I asked why a zillion times. No answers came. My friends listened, they allowed it...no condemnation, no correction....no pat answers to try to "fix" my circumstances...there were no answers ...and it took me a long time to realize there never would be. Hard stuff ... really hard stuff. But, from them, nothing but love...love so pure, poured out on me, that even remembering today brings me to tears.

Job's friends were not so kind. Self righteous (having or characterized by a certainty, especially an unfounded one, that one is totally correct or morally superior), and pious (making a hypocritical display of virtue).

Pouring over the most well worn book of all of my bibles since "that" day....I found myself mourning with Job, not only for his unfathomable losses but for friends that just didn't get it.

They were so quick to point out that surely Job had done something to bring on such tragedy. Surely there was sin. Surely God was punishing him.

But no!

For God to have punished Job it would require him to have done something wrong.

I thought God was punishing me too. I didn't study hard enough. My walk wasn't strong enough. I didn't pray enough. I didn't spend enough time at his feet. He had to get my attention, right? The pain, oh the pain, of thinking I was some how responsible. If only______.
I wouldn't have needed friends telling me, I was my own worst enemy.....I can't begin to imagine how different I would be today if I had had friends like Job.

Chapters 38-41 of Job were the most precious and life changing for me. God allowed Job's laments...he waited until Job could actually hear him and when he spoke it was SO powerful. There are so many verses to quote I simply could not choose. God.knows.everything. God knew, Job listened and these precious, precious words:

Then Job replied to the Lord: “I know that you can do all things; no purpose of yours can be thwarted. You asked, ‘Who is this that obscures my plans without knowledge?’ Surely I spoke of things I did not understand, things too wonderful for me to know. You said, ‘Listen now, and I will speak; I will question you, and you shall answer me.’ My ears had heard of you but now my eyes have seen you.
Job 42:4‭-‬5

My ears had heard OF YOU but now my EYES have SEEN you.

And I, just like Job, was brought to the true understanding of sovereignty....

And I, just like Job, wept.

And I, just like Job, repented.

And I, just like Job, have been restored.

Chances are, without great loss, I would not have buried myself in the book of Job and if I had I would not have grasped the true meaning or have been so profoundly affected. But God ......he knew then, he knows now. He held me then, he holds me now. I am forever changed by my circumstances. Of course because life is completely opposite of what I knew but mostly because a loving God worked his plan through them. Thanking him today and everyday for restoration.

Have a beautiful day! Be the hands and feet of Jesus.
❤️❤️❤️🖐️🖐️🖐️👣👣