A while ago, our ladies Bible study went through the book of Job. The first chapter left us breathless watching 4 of Job’s servants deliver nonstop bad news. In 7 verses we learned that this exceedingly wealthy man had lost 11,000 farm animals, all but 4 of his scores of employees, and his 10 precious children. Later in the story he also lost his health.

As the Bible study leader began, she updated the group on the health of two hospitalized men from the congregation. Both were not doing well, but that wasn’t the end of it.

Part way through our morning, the other pastor arrived to say one of these men had taken a turn for the worse, his family being summoned to say goodbye. We talked of the two wives who were suffering too, and the woman sitting behind me whispered, “It’s too much.” Suddenly the Book of Job became relevant. The same calamities he experienced 3000 years ago still happen today: losses of family, wealth, possessions, businesses, and health.

Why does God let people suffer like that? Our group talked about possible reasons in relation to Job:

• Maybe his relationship with God was strong only because his life was bursting with blessings.
• Maybe God wanted to increase Job’s trust in him by letting him discover that when you have nothing, you still have God.
• Maybe he wanted to deepen Job’s faith by proving to Job he could weather any storm.
• Maybe Job’s story is simply a teaching example for the rest of us.

Those may be valuable reasons for his suffering back then, but knowing them doesn’t lighten our loads now. When my husband got cancer and died, it was the worst thing that ever happened to me. But who’s to say my suffering is over?

Our world is broken. The last time it wasn’t “out of order” was in the Garden of Eden. Although Adam and Eve were people much like us, until they sinned against God their lives were without struggle or sorrow. Their world was all “good.” God even said so.

Our world isn’t so good. Until we leave this earth as Nate did (through death’s door into a God-created “good” paradise), we’ll be challenged to live with losses.

The miracle for each of us is that we’re not suffering on a continual basis. Although God allows it, he also provides times of non-suffering, times for recuperation and strengthening before the next challenge. Job teaches us that when things are going well, life isn’t necessarily normal. Our real “normal” is to be engaged in frequent battles with adversity.

There is some good news, though: since Job made it with his faith intact, we can too.

“Though he slay me, yet will I trust in him.” (Job 13:15)