TAT 146 The Joy of Suffering
Whenever suffering comes into our lives some of us think about Job. God pointed Job out to Satan because Job was God’s faithful servant. There was no one like him on the earth, blameless, upright, fearing God, and turning away from evil (Job 1:8). Because he was the best of the best God allowed Satan to afflict him in order to settle a dispute between God and Satan (Job 1:9–11). So Satan went forth and killed all of Job’s children, took all of his businesses from him, and left him completely destitute (Job 1:13–19). After all this Job did not curse God he fell to the ground and worshiped God. He said “naked I came from my mother’s womb, and naked I shall return there. The LORD gave and the LORD has taken away. Blessed be the name of the Lord.” (Job 1:20– 21). Through all of this Job never sinned. Some of us also remember what Job said later: “Shall we indeed accept good from God and not except adversity?” (Job 2:10). But few of us remember what Job said later after the suffering reached its greats height: “Why did I not die at birth, come forth from the womb and expire?” (Job 3:11). Job wished he had never been born! No matter how strong we are, each of us has a breaking point. But even when that breaking point is reached there is a single joy that stands above all others joys.
When the fires of their trials were the greatest three men experienced this joy (Daniel 3:25). After the LORD intervened in Job’s suffering, Job said: “I have heard of Thee by the hearing of the ear; but now my eyes see Thee;” and Paul said: “that I may know him, and the power of his resurrection and the fellowship of his sufferings, being conformed to his death;” (Philippians 3:10).
Yes, the single greatest joy that suffering can bring is a greater intimacy with our LORD Jesus Christ. There is Joy ahead of us all, let us not take our eyes off of that Joy.