There are times in life we go through major grief that may drive us to frustration and sadness. Dare I say there may have been, or may be circumstances that bring us to the point of meltdown and madness. We may become completely irrational, derailed, emotionally charged and begin to blow everything out of proportion. The stresses and darkness of life causes one to explode both in grief and distress that has us screaming “Why?!”, “Why me?!”
It is in times like these our pride kicks in, full volume. The grief is so overbearing that it does not matter what anybody says to you – whether it is right, wrong, or meant to comfort you. It does not matter how good the intention of family or friends are, the pain stings so much that there is no comfort that people around us could bring which would ease the frustration. Thus we want nothing to do with the advice of others, nor do we want to choose wisdom or comfort from those around us. It is so difficult for us to cope with our emotional state that we either do not want to listen and are numb to any other feeling. For those of you who have friends in such a state, the best is to simply be there for them. Such as in the case of a loved one’s death, what can one say? Other than to be there with them, support them, and be a listening ear or simply a shoulder to cry on, there is really nothing much that can be asked of you.
But when we ourselves are going through such times, it is most common for us to become like Job. In Eliphaz’s defence, everything he said was truth. And even after I have read over Eliphaz’s speech to Job multiple times, his words would be more than encouraging to someone with a sober mind. In the case of Job, his pain was overbearing to the point he lashes out with an explosive emotional response fuelled by grief and pain. Though he does not reprimand the name of the Lord, he does however cry out in complaint of his grief – that all he wanted was to die and not know his pain any longer.
11 What is my strength, that I should wait? And what is my end, that I should be patient? 12 Is my strength the strength of stones, or is my flesh bronze? 13 Have I any help in me, when resource is driven from me? 14 “He who withholds kindness from a friend forsakes the fear of the Almighty. 15 My brothers are treacherous as a torrent-bed, as torrential streams that pass away, 16 which are dark with ice, and where the snow hides itself. 17 When they melt, they disappear;b when it is hot, they vanish from their place. 18 The caravans turn aside from their course; they go up into the waste and perish. 19 The caravans of Tema look, the travelers of Sheba hope. 20 They are ashamed because they were confident; they come there and are disappointed.
Job 6:11-20
Job instead spews out his frustration on his friends. He accuses them of being a “torrent-bed”, meaning, unreliable and people whom he cannot lean on. But this is far from the truth. Their exchange of theology concludes the same theme with the understanding of the sovereignty of God – but it is clear that one is presented with encouragement, and the other with grief.
Seeing Life through Love
In response to Job’s dialogue with Eliphaz, we ought to learn a great lesson on hearing. It is not a coincidence that his three closest friends gather around Job in his time of grief. In fact, it is an evident sign of God’s presence in the midst of his loneliness and sadness of loss. When Satan had struck down his family, God provides people to be near with him – yet Job does not recognize them as God’s messengers and evidence of his presence.
When we are most grieved, it is most important for us to listen for God and also for us to be thankful for his Grace that still is present with us. Though we can be hot with pain and suffering in our hearts, it is important to see life in those moments through the eyes of the Lord’s love for you, and grow thankful for those who genuinely care for us. Similarly, if we have a clarity of understanding God’s grace, then grievance ought to lead us to thankfulness. Resentfulness is what fuels our demise and our fall away from God. Though we may profess with our tongues the power of God in our lives, it is still possible to say it with dismay and discontent, thus rendering our words meaningless.
Therefore today if you are going through times of grief, or if in the future there are moments that drive you to the edge of madness, do not listen to the lies of the enemy that “all is lost and all is hopeless”. See life through the eyes of God’s Word and his unfailing love for you. Give thanksgiving for what you do have, and be humble enough to receive those who come with Christ-centered love and grace. The Lord is closer thank you think.
Image by: Simon Schmitt, http://www.unsplash.com
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