Why I love the book of Job and why I should start reading it again

I have always been attracted to the book of Job. I’ve studied it twice. Firstly in Sydney ( I think I need to go and drag out my essay again) as part of wisdom literature study and again in my OT studies in MST.

The idea that God can allow suffering, the battle between God and Satan for our soul and the ultimate example of Job being able to submit willingly to God always fascinates me. And of course the fairy tale lover in me, loves the happy ending when Job ends up getting all and more.. and I secretly always hope that this would be me.

Like Job too, I’ve had my fair shares of unhappy times, though no where near what Job has experienced. Perhaps God was merciful in not allowing me to be tempted beyond what I could bear. And also like Job I have been blessed with friends who have attempted to sit with me and to help me through the situations. And also like him, I’ve had my fair share of friends who have been very helpfully unhelpful as I struggle with my theology. Such that the older I get, the less I try to get help from people. And that perhaps is how God has been moulding me and weaning me away from the support of others. As a friend pointed out, I am likely too dependent on others.

And yet, Christianity has always struck me as such a delicate balance of opposites. On one hand, God asks us to be completely dependent on Him. On the other hand, he also asks us to carry the burden from each other. Tilt more to one side and you will get an imbalanced picture. Tilt more to one side and you will end up either being too needy or too independent. How difficult is that?! And yet that is why God sent Jesus as the ultimate example and left the Holy Spirit as the ultimate guide.

http://thegospelcoalition.org/blogs/tgc/2014/02/06/the-gravity-of-limitation/

I think this blog speaks of what I am struggling with .. or why I should stop struggling..

“ Apreciating mystery need not eliminate certainty. We are certain that God became man, We are certain that all things work of the good of those who love God and that suffering is great evil. But we must submit to the mystery of how these truths technically work with each other. In so far as we misuse theology or devotionals or prayer to avoid submitting to the mysteries around us, we are more likely striving to be God rather than His creatures”

Indeed, I think my struggle is as such. Much less that try to do too much, I’m struggling which trying to come to a reasonable explanation for this with whatever understanding that I can muster and that in itself is an improbability. Though I must say that I thank God that He has been so patient with me, allowing me to struggle and now finally submit to it.
I can only pray that I will continue to be in this mentality of submission. Not unwillingly but willingly to submit to the one who controls all and who has only my best in mind.
And so very sincerely I pray.


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