Ever say those words “why God?” I feel that I have been saying that quite a bit recently. Even as I sit, in my 83-degree temp. home (a/c went out last night), writing this right now I am asking Him “why?” I could share all of the current battles I have been in the past few weeks, but I am not writing for sympathy or kind words to lift me up. I want to lift you up today.
Back to “why God?” I am nowhere near the man that Job was in the bible, but I certainly at times feel like I am walking in his shoes and on his path. Which scares me, but also pushes me to continue to move forward and not fall apart and give in to the devil or his lowly attempts to push me off the path that God has me on. Quickly, lets look at some information on Job: The book of Job can be found right after Esther and right before Psalms in the Bible.
In Job, we see a man who God allows to be directly attacked by Satan. He is an example of faithfulness as he loses everything important to him yet remains faithful to God.
• In chapters 1-3, God tests Job’s faithfulness through allowing Satan to attack him. God told Satan, “Behold, all that he has is in your power, only do not put forth your hand on him” (1:12). Through Job’s trials, all is lost including his health, his wife even tells him to curse God and commit suicide, but he remains strong and faithful, “Through all this Job did not sin nor did he blame God.” (1:22).
• From chapters 4-37, Job’s friends give him plenty of bad advice, in rounds of discussion. They mistakenly blame his sufferings on his personal sins rather than God testing and growing Job. One of them was half-correct in that God wanted to humble him, but this was only a part of God’s test.
• In chapters 38-42, God speaks to Job and restores him. God knows that Job has received incorrect guidance from his friends, “Who is this that darkens counsel by words without knowledge?” God appropriately declares that humans do not know everything. Then He humbles Job by asking a series of questions that could never be answered by anyone other than Almighty God; for example, “Have you understood the expanse of the earth? Tell Me, if you know all this”. God then brings him to an understanding that believers don’t always know what God is doing in their lives.In the end, Job answers God by saying, “I have declared that which I did not understand”. God then blessed Job with twice as much as he had before his trials began.
Ouch, wait celebrate! Job goes through a lot and I suggest you go and read to get a better feel of what he went through. As I have said, I am nowhere near the man that Job was, but I am certainly being challenged and its not easy! I have had days where I just want to cry – the whole day please. Yes, I admitted that, but I want to be transparent of who I am and what I am. I am human flesh that goes through good, bad, sad, happy times just like everyone else. But I am “man enough” to share that not only do I cry, I have actually wanted to cry!

As a man in ministry and overseeing churches I have friends that actually think life for me must be wonderful! HAH! Yes, I have an amazing calling and profession, but don’t confuse that with easy street. My heart breaks daily for the hurting marriages around me, challenges that my peers are dealing with and then there is this horrible disease cancer that seems to be every where now. My world is not “easy street” by any means.
But Job reminds me as I step into each day that its not going to be easy. As I said, I am in the midst of personal battles and the current theme – they keep being added to almost every day now for a few recent weeks. It would be easy for me to curse God, curse the bible and lash out everyone around me. But, it wouldn’t make me feel any better in the long term. Plus, everything that is happening, will still be happening.
But isn’t this all of us at some point?
What I mean by this is that we all have our times of stress, sadness, anger and more. Some of us go through extremes and others will experience a variety these. Yet how we choose to deal with these will set us apart from those that choose to not deal with things.
Some people will turn to alcohol to deal with their stresses, or drugs or even food. Yet others will immerse themselves in their work or a hobby. Still, others will fall into depression, anger and anxiety never facing their reality. Do you know what that reality is? You can drink all night, work all through the weekend and be angry all day, yet the challenges, trials, and frustrations will still be there.
So, what should you do? Remember, my goal was to lift you up. My way of doing this will be offering the following ideas to deal with the stresses we all face.
• Face the fact that you cannot hide from the issue
• Accept that whatever is happening – is your current real now
• Ask yourself – are there solutions? What can I do? Who can help me?
• Don’t be afraid to ask for help
• Pray and ask God for guidance
• Get more sleep
• Avoid the alcohol, drugs, etc. they mask the situation temporarily
• Get out and exercise to release some of the nervous energy and or create some positive energy
• Don’t give in to the pity party. Instead hit the challenge head on.

One last thought, remember that you are not alone. Reach out to family, friends, your church. There is someone right around that corner that can help stand with you in your corner!