“Then Job arose and tore his robe and shaved his head, and he fell to the ground and worshiped. And he said: ‘Naked I came from my mother’s womb, and naked shall I return there. The LORD gave, and the LORD has taken away; blessed be the name of the LORD.’” Job 1:20-21.
In the first chapter of Job, the title character goes from riches to rags in a progressive series of gut-wrenching moments, one on the heels of the other. His possessions are striped from him, followed by his children and finally his health. All he’s left with is sores and boils, a nagging wife, and three friends who don’t provide much help.
I’ve had my share of gut-wrenching moments: Our home and belongings burned to the ground. A brother, his wife and their child were killed in a freak accident. My husband’s job was downsized after 22 years of loyalty to his company leading to relocating 800 miles from home and family. Two children lost to miscarriages. A stepson was killed in Iraq. My father died quite suddenly and unexpectedly from a blood clot to the heart.
Each and every one of these experiences sent me and my family into an emotional tailspin, but thankfully they were spread out over a lifetime allowing one to be absorbed and mourned before the next one struck. I cannot imagine experiencing all of them at once as Job did. Would I be able to say as he did “Bless be the name of the LORD”, or would I curl up in a catatonic ball screaming “WHY? WHY? WHY?” in my head?
Lord, I pray that I will never have to find out the answer to that question, but if it did, please take my hand and let me feel you by my side the whole time.