Dear Family and Friends,

If you recall, last week we talked about grieving the life we had before the pandemic.

Perhaps you find yourself in denial, getting angry, finding blame or bargaining away the guilt, or just plain sad about your current circumstances. Or maybe you are one of the fortunates who passed right through the grieving process and came to accept all that has changed. 

Grieving is natural and essential when we lose someone or something. Today we will spend our time learning how grief can actually be good for us.

Sure, grieving is not something any of us yearn to go through, but if we must grieve, let me share that there are benefits. 

Let’s begin with a quick look at Job’s stages of grief.

Job’s acceptance can be seen in Job 1:21, “Naked I came from my mother’s womb, and naked I will depart. The Lord gave and the Lord has taken away; may the name of the Lord be praised.” In all this, Job did not sin by charging God with wrongdoing.” 

He continues in Job 2:10, “He replied (to his wife), “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.” 

Unfortunately for Job, his story does not end with chapter two. As the pain and suffering continues, Job slips into other stages of grief. 

We find Job in sadness in all of chapter three. Next, Job tries to bargain with God in Job 13:20-24. We find an angry Job in Job 23:1-4. Finally, we see Job fall into a false state of denial in Job 29:1-4. 

Did you notice that Job regresses in the stages of grieving as his story unfolds? Look again at the verse references.

Job has a noteworthy start as he accepts his fate, the stage where most of us end. But he ends in denial, the stage where many of us start. Why? 

The first chapter reveals Job feared God. For example, he would customarily sacrifice burnt offerings to atone for his children’s sins. See Job 1:5

We never again see Job worship God. 

Can you relate to Job? I wonder how many of us worship and thank God in the good times but when times are bad, we complain to God instead?

It’s okay to complain but let’s not forget to worship Him as well.

Paul reminds us in 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18 to, “Rejoice always, pray continually, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.” 

In all circumstances means in the bad times as well as the good. This my friends is our first lesson in grieving. 

Our next lessons can be found in chapters 38-42 which begin with these verses: “Then the Lord spoke to Job out of the storm. He said: “Who is this that obscures my plans with words without knowledge? Brace yourself like a man; I will question you, and you shall answer me.” Job 38:1-3 NIV

Here we see that despite Job’s rather disrespectful pleas, God responded to Job’s prayers.

Did you notice that God did not directly answer Job? Job pleaded for God to hear his case for innocence.

God responded by telling Job what he needed to hear, not what he wanted to hear. 

Have you ever wondered why God didn’t answer your prayers? We all have.

Perhaps we missed God’s response as we waited for Him to answer. Maybe He gave us what we needed, not wanted.

Or maybe God’s response was to not respond. As parents, we know that sometimes it’s best to NOT buy the toy your child is throwing a tantrum over at Long’s. That rewarding bad behavior will hurt, not help the child.

God loves us in the same way. 

Last week I mentioned that we, at times, grieve because the future is all a blur.

With that in mind, please take the time this week to read Job chapters 38-42, where God reminds Job and us that He is the Almighty who created the heavens and the earth and every little detail in it.

That He has wisdom beyond our understanding.

That He can do anything, if He so chooses. 

Why did God respond in this way? To restore Job’s trust in Him.

As can be seen in Job’s reply, trust was indeed restored. “I know that you can do all things; no purpose of yours can be thwarted. Surely I spoke of things I did not understand, things too wonderful for me to know. My ears had heard of you but now my eyes have seen you. Therefore I despise myself and repent in dust and ashes.” Job 42:2-3, 5-6

As you read these chapters, read it as if God is speaking to you – because He is.

God wants us to trust Him – with everything, with every aspect of our lives.

Although the future may be blurry, if we place our trust in Him, He will act.

This, my friends, is our final lesson for today. Trusting God even in the midst of grieving will indeed have its benefits.

In love always,