Job 2:9-10 “His wife said to him, “Are you still holding on to your integrity? Curse God and die!”
He replied, “You are talking like a foolish woman. Shall we accept good from God, and not trouble?”
In all this, Job did not sin in what he said.

Sometimes those closest to you can be your biggest problem, and they are certainly able to deal you the most painful wounds. We sometimes forget that Job’s wife lost her children and possessions too, just as Job did. The only trial she didn’t share equally with him was the physical affliction. Her remark here was made out of the anguish of her own soul, and really shouldn’t be so surprising. I personally wouldn’t be too hard on her, even though her words to her husband were deeply wounding. I have known of several situations where people told their family members to die, though I haven’t been close to a physical murder. It’s never a good thing, but it’s not so rare. Job’s response is all the more commendable, because he actually didn’t even call his wife a fool, he just said that her statement was something a foolish person would say. What he said after that had real potential to help her gain perspective on her own grief, as well as to understand him. It is important and valuable that the story of Job is in the Bible, because as true as it is that actions have consequences, which is stressed in the rest of the Bible, sometimes things just happen, and aren’t punishment for anything. This issue came up in relation to the man born blind whom Jesus encountered in John 9. Jesus said then, “Neither this man nor his parents sinned, but this happened so that the work of God might be displayed in his life.” (John 9:3) The end result of all of Job’s trials was glory to God and massive spiritual growth in him. I’m sure his wife was likewise comforted, and grew right along with him. Our response to trials should first be to see if the cause, or the trigger at least, is in us, and if we find anything, repent. If we find nothing, we should rest assured that God will work it all out for blessing in the long run, and seek to gain whatever He wants to give us in the process. (Romans 8:28)

From my current perspective I don’t feel like I’ve been through particularly severe trials, though I have certainly had experiences that weren’t pleasant at the time. In the middle of them I certainly thought of them as trials! As a pastor I am constantly dealing with people who are going through all sorts of trials, some of them quite severe. My challenge is to point them all to Christ, without making light of what they are going through. That’s something at which I certainly don’t have a perfect batting average! I frequently quote John 16:33 to people: “In this world you will have trouble, but rejoice! I have overcome the world.” Peter said we aren’t to be “surprised at the painful trial you are suffering, as though something strange were happening to you.” (1 Peter 4:12) Then he goes on to say, “But rejoice that you are participating in the sufferings of Christ, so that you may be overjoyed when His glory is revealed.” (1 Peter 4:13) That’s not masoch­ism, that’s faith! I cannot force anyone to have such faith, but I can encourage them to receive the faith that God offers.

Father, You know who in this church is going through painful trials right now. Help me come alongside them, comforting and encouraging and never belittling, so that they may indeed come through purified, with increased maturity and unshakable peace and joy, for Your glory. Thank You. Hallelujah!