“Shall we accept good from God, and not trouble?”

When repetitive waves of woes hit his life, Job replied to his wife with these words “Shall we accept good from God, and not trouble?” in Job 2:10

Trouble is a part of life.  Jesus Himself confirmed it in John 16:33: “In this world you will have trouble.” How we respond to trouble is what makes all the difference in the world!  I have had my share of troubles, hardships and tribulations.  And although, in the past, I have not responded to them with joy as James 1 tells us to do, presently I am learning to do just that.  “Consider it pure joy when we face trials of many kinds…”  How can trouble ever be thought of as a joy?  Well, let’s look at that for a moment.

Troubles can most definitely be for our good!  First, when troubles come, they show us what is in our heart by the attitudes we reflect.  How do we react; with faith or fear?  First, Troubles teach us lessons.  Without troubles, we wouldn’t get to walk out personal problem solving with the same perspective like when we experience them ourselves.  Second, Troubles can produce compassion for others who are going through similar trials of their own.  Ever notice how your empathy grows when you’ve faced the same suffering you see a neighbor going through because you can remember feeling similar pains, hurts, heartaches, doubts and shame?  Third, Trouble births joy.  For me, after trouble leaves, my awareness of how blessed I truly am is magnified, and I become overwhelmingly grateful to God for the people and gifts I’ve received by Him in life, both big and small.  Fourth, Troubles humble us to the point of realizing how little we control in life.  Finally, when afflictions arise, like with Job who knew his had nothing to do with anything he had or hadn’t done, you see just how much God is the Author of everything.  And even though Job didn’t understand the reasons for his many consecutive calamities occurring one right after the other, he knew He could trust in the One True God who allowed them for His purposes.

At the beginning of this blog, I shared how Jesus talked about how in this world we will have trouble.  But He also said “But take heart! I have overcome the world.”  On that account, as well as all the reasons troubles can be used for good, I am desperately trying to see troubles as blessings which will make me more like Christ.  In the end, the main point is for us to be made more like Christ.  That said, ultimately, Jesus suffered beyond anything we ever will because He took on ALL of the sins of the world.  Seriously, think about that.

So, the question remains…

“Shall we accept good from God, and not trouble?”  Because, undeniably, He is there with us in both!