Christian Monthly Standard

When Life Won’t Give You A Break

We received more bad news about the condition of our two-year old daughter, Grace. I won’t go into all the details, but she has Prader-Willi Syndrome. She has been diagnosed now with a condition tied to Prader-Willi Syndrome that if she gets ill, it could be fatal. If you don’t know what Prader-Willi Syndrome is, here is a good place to find out more:

http://www.pwsausa.org/syndrome/index.htm

Anyway, what do you do when life continues to cause you to struggle? Where is your hope and encouragement coming from when it seems that Satan is intent on destroying your will and faith? Today, I had to use the first two chapters in the book of Job. When I read chapter 1 of Job, I have to think that Job thought the same thing: “I just can’t catch a break.” First, Job is told that his animals were stolen and farmhands were killed. Then fire burns up all of his sheep and shepherds. Then his camels were stolen and his servants were killed. Finally, all his children were killed. Bad news compounds bad news. As the bad news rolls in, I see four things that Job did.

1. Grieve. “Job stood up and tore his robe in grief” (Job 1:20; NLT). Being a disciple does not mean that life does not hurt. We do not have to pretend that everything is fine. It is not and Job revealed his grief visibly.

2. Worship. “Then he shaved his head and fell to the ground to worship” (1:20; NLT). A disciple has to turn to God because where else is there to turn? Where else can the pain be soothed? Where else can comfort be found? No one could say anything and no one could do anything to change what happened to Job. We have to turn to God when life won’t give us a break.

3. Acceptance. “He said, ‘I came naked from my mother’s womb, and I will be naked when I leave. The Lord gave me what I had, and the Lord has taken it away’” (1:21; NLT). Life is what it is. This is not heaven. There are not any promises given to us in this life for peace, happiness, and joy. Life can be very hard. Accept that we have not been given any promises that life will go the way we want.

4. Praise. “Praise the name of the Lord!” (1:21; NLT). Be thankful what we do have. Life could be worse, even though it may not always seem possible that it could get worse. There are positive things that can always be found. Even in the loss of a loved one (as Job lost his children), he could praise God for the fact that he ever had children and could spend the time that God gave him with them. God has given me three beautiful daughters and I have to be happy and content with such a blessing.