What Did I Do To Deserve This?

"You must have done something awful for this to happen to you." Has anyone ever said that to you? Have you said it to yourself?

Job had been through a lot. He'd lost his children, his home, his possessions, and his health. All he had left was his wife, and that was not necessarily a good thing. She wasn't much help to him during his troubles.

Job needed some encouragement. He needed to know somebody cared and sympathized with him. He needed friends.

His friends came to see him, alright. But they didn't provide what he needed. Instead, they told Job that he must have committed some horrible sins and that God was punishing him by sending all these calamities.

Many people think this way. They believe anything bad that happens must be punishment from God. Let's see what God has to say about that.

In Job 1:8, God said there was nobody else on earth like Job. He was "blameless and upright. He feared God and shunned evil." So why did so much evil befall Job? Because the devil complained to God that the only reason Job was so good was because God had given him so much. Satan thought if everything was taken away from Job, then he would not be loyal to God.

God knew how Job would react, though, and He wanted to show other people and Satan the sort of example Job was going to set. Even when Job's wife suggested that he curse God and die, Job refused to denounce God or blame him.

God often uses people in difficult circumstances to teach others. (John 9:1-3) Jesus deliberately delayed going to see Lazarus when He'd been told his friend was sick. After Lazarus died, Jesus brought him back to life. Do you think that Jesus planned it that way, so that people could see His power? By allowing Lazarus to die, Jesus was able to teach others and to make it clear to them that He was the Son of God (John 11:15, 42).

There are many examples in the Bible of righteous people suffering through no fault of their own. Abel was killed by his evil brother who was jealous. Joseph was put into prison because of a wicked and deceitful woman, not because he'd done anything wrong. John the Baptist was beheaded, though he was a prophet of God. Jesus said there was no other man like John, but he died because of a woman who sought revenge.

Here's what Peter wrote to New Testament Christians about suffering: "You greatly rejoice, though now for a little while you may have had to suffer grief in all kinds of trials. These have come so that your faith-of greater worth than gold, which perishes even though refined by fire-may be proved genuine and may result in praise, glory and honor when Jesus Christ is revealed." (1 Peter 1:6-7)

Suffering is greater than gold, which doesn't last, because suffering refines our faith and makes it genuine. This results in honor for Jesus.

And, speaking of Jesus. He was innocent, yet he suffered more than anyone. He willingly left heaven to suffer cruelties he didn't deserve and he didn't have to accept. It's hard enough to endure trials when we can't do anything to stop them. Think of how tempting it would be, if you had the power to call angels to help you or if you could strike dead anyone who tried to harm you? Jesus had the power to avoid suffering, yet he gave up His right to do that and instead faced the pain . . . for us.

We may suffer a lot of pain in our lives, BUT when this life is over, we do not need to suffer through eternity. Why? Because of the suffering Jesus took on himself for us. He suffered because He didn't want us to suffer. Does that sound like a God who is waiting for an opportunity to punish us when we do wrong? Jesus came to this world to seek and save. He was led, like a lamb to the slaughter, and it was because He wanted to spare us from eternal suffering.

So the next time trouble comes into your life, please don't blame God for it. He's not sitting on His throne looking for a reason to zap you. He made the supreme sacrifice in order to SPARE us from suffering the punishment we deserved for our sins.

Will you allow your pain to turn you away from the one who wants to rescue you from it? That's what Satan would like to see. May we, like Job and Peter, allow our suffering to refine our faith and result in God's praise, glory, and honor.

Author Marsha Jordan is founder of a nonprofit charity called Hugs and Hope for Sick Children (http://www.hugsandhope.org). More of her articles on depression are in her book, Hugs, Hope, and Peanut Butter, a compilation of encouraging essays illustrated with drawings by critically ill children. Proceeds from book sales will benefit kids battling cancer and other life-threatening illnesses.

Other essays in the book include, "More Than I Can Handle," "Ten Tips For Beating Depression," and "Why Doesn't God Answer My Prayer?" Order the book or learn more at http://www.hugsandhope.org/book.htm

---

Making Merchandise of Christians ? Prosperity Gospel Blight

Anyone who has read their Bible would have to concede... Read More

Why The Devil Is He Out To Get You?

The devil's agenda for tricking Adam and Eve into eating... Read More

Serving

Some people may ask how do we serve God and... Read More

Surely Not ALL Evils!

Surely, Not All Evils!(circa 2000)St. Paul wrote a letter to... Read More

Jesus is Lord: Lets Stop Usurping His Roles

In five words Paul enunciates the basic principle of the... Read More

Muhammad

FAITH THAT MOVES MOUNTAINS:The Way of the Peaceful Warrior is... Read More

Whose Land?

It is interesting that everyone is so hung-up on the... Read More

Witnesses, Mormons, Masons and More

The founding of the United States went along with the... Read More

Kingdom of Heaven

Kingdom of Heaven is Ridley Scott's way of trying to... Read More

The Purpose of Our Being

Most people think that there is a higher meaning for... Read More

A Commonsense Guide to Exorcism

Bloodshot eyes stared at the crucifix six inches from his... Read More

Universal Salvation: Gods Love and Grace Will Overwhelm All Men!

I thank Christ Jesus our Lord, who has strengthened me,... Read More

The Rise And Fall Of Babylon

According to the Book of Revelations, the city of Babylon... Read More

God is not a Homicidal Maniac

One day on the listserve for my support group it... Read More

Tom Cruise and John Travolta Prescribe to Scientology... Whats the Deal With That?

CARLSBAD, CALIFORNIA: Anytime a well-known name gets involved with a... Read More

Gods Favorite Religion

What does your church teach regarding the subject of Widows... Read More

Finding God in the Clouds

It was a cool August night during the Summer before... Read More

Freedom of Religion

True freedom of religion must include an individuals right to... Read More

Thoughts on the Road to Emmaus

". . . their eyes were opened, and they recognized... Read More

Mahavira | 24th Tirthankara of Jainism His Teachings and Essence

Vardhamana Mahavira, the 24th Tirthankara of Jainism was the last... Read More

Union with Christ Unites Us to One Another

Jesus knew He would be abandonedOn the night He was... Read More

Reconstrictionism + Dominionism = Warfare Theology

The Christian Church believes that at the close of the... Read More

Purity

Is being purified only for the men of the cloth?... Read More

Brief History of Jerusalem; Part 1

Jerusalem is the eternal capital of Israel.....it is the city... Read More

Tongue of the Power

The purposes of a man's heart are deep waters, but... Read More

What Is The Most Important Righteous Requirement Of Gods Law?

To live "under the law" is to live under the... Read More

Obsessed with Armageddon

More and more today people are showing an obsession about... Read More

The Scrolls and the Grail

DEAD SEA SCROLLS: - Dr Norman Golb is a top... Read More

The Kabbalah Kraze!

I remember hearing a minister years ago as he quoted... Read More

Church Retreat and Church Retreats

Church retreats are an excellent way to involve the church... Read More

What is God? Does Proof Exist?

Apology:I don't for a minute profess to know what God... Read More

The Moment of Truth

Former Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu stated to all of Israel,... Read More

While the World is on Fire - Part Two

Luke 19:49-19:46 This world is a tender box, of political,... Read More