Where is the Good?

I am going to be completely honest and let you know what a struggle it has been for me to come up with something to share with you today. Sometimes experiencing or watching others go through incredible difficulty over and over in such a short span of time leads to a lot of contemplation that I struggle to put into words. Sometimes it is hard to see blessing that comes from obedience, joy in the suffering, peace that passes all understanding. Sometimes it is hard to see Him. Yet, I know God is there. Job experienced more pain and loss in a short span of time than I think anyone has, so it is from the book of Job that I will leave a few thoughts.

Job was a righteous man, so much so that he caught the attention of Satan. Job had been exceedingly blessed in his earthly life. He had a large family, much wealth and possessions, a good life, and he followed God. Satan doubted the sincerity of Job’s heart toward God. With the Lord’s consent, Satan was able to take away all but Job’s life to see the response. Would Job still be devoted to his Lord when the blessings were gone? I am sure Job hardly had a chance to know what hit him, the whirlwind of loss came so suddenly. His response was the result of knowing His Lord and full trust in God’s plan.

“And he said, “Naked I came from my mother’s womb, and naked shall I return. The Lord gave, and the Lord has taken away; blessed be the name of the Lord.” (Job 1:21)

Yes, all was taken away, all except an unsupportive wife and three very unhelpful friends. Job experienced all the pain, suffering and heartache. He passed through stages of grief and waves of emotion, but he never stopped trusting God. At times he felt alone and forsaken, he lacked understanding, the steps forward seemed unclear. Maybe he felt the unfairness, he doubted himself, he sought goodness where none could be found, but he did not stop trusting God.

“Behold, I go forward, but he is not there, and backward, but I do not perceive him; on the left hand when he is working, I do not behold him; he turns to the right hand, but I do not see him. But he knows the way that I take; when he has tried me, I shall come out as gold. My foot has held fast to his steps; I have kept his way and have not turned aside. I have not departed from the commandment of his lips; I have treasured the words of his mouth more than my portion of food.” (Job 23:8-12)

Job held fast to his faith in God. He could not see or understand God’s plan, but he trusted it because He trusted God. Even though he could not always see God in his surroundings, he never doubted God was there and at work. Job knew whatever he experienced would not just be good for him but God’s best.

Sometimes it is hard to see how something we are experiencing can possibly bring any good. There is no joy or peace as we pass through really challenging situations. As I have thought through this for most of the week, I am reminded that I do not always see good as God sees good. His good may look far different from mine. I am also reminded that He is God, and I am not. Anything He has planned for me or those around me is so much greater than I can ask or think. These thoughts and the assurance of the truth in them produce that joy in suffering, a peace when we do not understand, and yes, we see the abundant measures of God’s goodness.

Your obedience to God does bring blessing, maybe you just will not see it for a while. The testimony of your obedience as you walk through difficult days brings glory to the Father and points others to Him. What if the good God produces is His work through you in the life of another? Blessings may come years down the road as those you touch honor Him with their lives because of your obedience. Regardless of what the good ends up being, when you hold fast to Him you will experience more of God, and you will come out as gold.

In His Love,

Susan