Job Chapter 30. Long suffering.
Job goes to Great lengths to express his frustration on how no one is being a comfort to him after he has been a great comfort to others for so long. He even makes accusations against God as if even God himself has turned against him.
I am reminded of the prophet Habakkuk who said in Habakkuk 1:2 “How long, o Lord, must I call for help but you do not listen? Or cry out to you violence but you do not save?”
The Bible asks us to be “long suffering” or in other words to “patiently endure.”
We are asked to do this no matter how long our suffering is or how bad the trial seems to be. But mentally, physically, and spiritually we can't do it. It's so easy to conclude that we don't deserve to suffer for long periods of time! That it's wrong! It's easy to conclude that God is not present if we have to suffer for long periods of time. It's easy to conclude that God is against us if we have to be patient for long periods of time.
Such thinking is irrational. Who am I to think I don't deserve such pain or suffering? Is my wisdom greater than Gods? Is my understanding greater than Gods? Do I know what is best for myself over God? God's wisdom, understanding, ways, thoughts and plans for me are greater than mine for myself. Isaiah 55:8-9 and Jeremiah 29:11.
So what value is there in long-suffering or patiently enduring?
1. First let me say, such an endeavor is impossible by our own strength. We need the Holy Spirit to empower us and help us through trials and tribulations. It is one of the gifts we receive through the Holy Spirit… Patience is provided to us through the Holy Spirit.
2. With patience or long-suffering comes stronger Faith and Hope that God is indeed in control and is still very near to us. God uses these times to build our character and make us more like Jesus. Romans 5:3-4 and Romans 8:28.
3. Knowing that God is striving to make us more like Jesus, we should be joyful of our trials and tribulations vs being resistant. James 1:2-4.
And there are great rewards for those who can endure, James 1:12.
If God is patient with us and our stubbornness when we think we know what we are doing, therefore should we not be patient with God who does know what he's doing? Or better yet, if God thinks we are worthy and loving enough to be patient with, then should we not be that way with others?
Listen! I am an irrational thinker because I'm quick to conclude that it's not right for me to have to go through trials and tribulations for long periods of time. If I can get past this thought process and change my attitude and look at trials and tribulations joyfully, I would grow so much more for the better. If I could just realize God is in control and at work in my life to make me more like Christ, then enduring patiently would seem so much of a positive act.
So instead of complaining and feeling God is against me, I need to be joyful and thankful and trusting and therefore long-suffering and enduring patiently. God help me because I can't do what I know I need to do.
We heard more from Job in this chapter and received more of a description of what a miserable condition that he was in. I also thought about how we are to patiently endure evil after taking a look today at 2 Timothy 2:22-26.
“So flee youthful passions and pursue righteousness, faith, love, and peace, along with those who call on the Lord from a pure heart. Have nothing to do with foolish, ignorant controversies; you know that they breed quarrels. And the Lord’s servant must not be quarrelsome but kind to everyone, able to teach, patiently enduring evil, correcting his opponents with gentleness. God may perhaps grant them repentance leading to a knowledge of the truth, and they may come to their senses and escape from the snare of the devil, after being captured by him to do his will.”