Verses 1-15
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Job adds that every man will have hard times on earth, as a hired servant will have times of hard labor. Everyone will see “futility” and “wearisome nights” from time to time, and that's just part of life.
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In fact, Scripture teaches, along with verse 3 in this chapter, that these hard times are appointed for us (Ecclesiastes 7:14). Remember that your sufferings are appointed for a good purpose.
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Verses 16-19
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When Job so quickly saw his entire family, livelihood, and health destroyed, he realized something: Life is but a breath, and one that quickly perishes.
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Sometimes, through suffering, we need to learn how frail we are, as this teaches us to rely solely on God. Be thankful for times that teach you to rely on God rather than yourself.
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Job also wonders, “If man is so weak anyway, why doesn't God just let us all perish?” What does it matter? Why keep us alive and test us with hardship, or make us go through times of suffering at all?
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God does this because He intends for us to inherit eternal life—to cease from sin, resist the flesh, and be conformed to the image of Christ instead. And in order to cease from sin, we must suffer in the flesh (1 Peter 4:1-2). Remember this during times of suffering. Focus on the fact that hardships help to grow you, urge you to repent, and ultimately help you to become fit for God's kingdom. Resist being comfortable!
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Verses 20-21
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Job then begins to question whether he does have some sin that would cause God to bring this suffering upon him. If his sin is to blame, then why wouldn't God forgive him? Wouldn't that bring his suffering to an end? This is his bigger question. Christians can have similar feelings, but these feelings aren't helpful.
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Suffering isn't really a matter of being forgiven or not. The truth is that, as believers, we are forgiven already (Colossians 2:13, 1 John 2:12). But being forgiven doesn't mean we will be eased.
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We still need discipline and suffering in order to learn to fully repent and be obedient to God.
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Even Jesus, who had no sin, learned obedience through His suffering (Hebrews 5:8).
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So, when you suffer, don't think that it's God punishing you rather than forgiving you. Instead, remember that God is using your hardships, out of love for you, to grow you in His righteousness (Hebrews 12:5-6,10-11).
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