As if Job’s suffering isn’t enough, he must now endure the scorn of onlookers, men who spit on him and openly despise him, simply for the suffering that’s befallen him. Worse, these onlookers were once far beneath Job on the social, economic, and moral ladder (Job 30:1). Now, they’re mocking him. Job falls into a unique type of despair caused when you are suffering but those around you are not.
No one was literally spitting on me, but I have certainly experienced scorn for my suffering from those around me. I experience it most on social media. Whenever I see a friend post about something she has that I don’t, but wish I did, I feel the scorn. A husband, a child, another book coming out—posts about these things can strike a sensitive nerve in me, a place that quietly suffers from loneliness, longing, and lack. Because of this, a simple engagement announcement, wedding photo, or book-cover reveal can feel like torture to my heart.
Unlike the wicked men in our reading today, this mocking is completely unintentional on the part of my friends, but it still has the power to deepen my despair, not only because comparison is the thief of joy, but because the voice of the mockers convinces me that I am alone in my suffering. Everyone else’s life seems to be moving along according to plan. Mine is not.
I wonder if Satan sent the mockers to Job, and I wonder if he did so knowing how frail we humans are in the face of loneliness. Suffering is difficult. Suffering alone is unbearable.
Perhaps this would be Job’s tipping point. I would have understood if it was, but Job still cries out to God. It is a despairing cry, but a cry nonetheless: “I cry out to you for help, but You do not answer me” (Job 30:20). His words foreshadow the ultimate cry of despair when Christ hangs on a cross and asks, “My God, my God, why have you abandoned me?” (Matthew 27:46).
Christ suffered. Christ was mocked in that suffering. Christ felt forsaken by God. All of Christ’s work and ministry led to those hours of scorn on the cross. And yet, I continue to sit in my suffering, I look at the thriving lives of those around me, and I convince myself I am alone when the exact opposite is true.
This is why the companionship of Christ and the knowledge of His suffering are so important to hold onto in our darkest times. If we do not listen first to these truths, we will only hear the voices of the mockers telling us we are alone.
But you are not. We are not. Not in this. Not ever. Jesus has cried out on our behalf, and because of Him, we are not forsaken, not abandoned, and never forgotten in our suffering.
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35 thoughts on "Job Speaks About His Condition"
Suffering must be done alone ( to truly heal). There is no one on this earth that can save us. The only way through suffering is Jesus. This clearly states we might feel alone but only because we are seeking others to be saved when we should be seeking Christ.
Christ suffered more than anything I will ever experience
True suffering is done with just me and Jesus. This is where my reliance on Him grows. I have been in a season of mental and emotional struggle. I have not been alone but there are not many who truly understand.
Lord i give it all to you!
I am in the suffering right now. I am 22 weeks pregnant with a baby the doctors say is “incompatible with life”. I feel alone in my suffering even though “friends” on social media (hundreds of them) post how they are praying for us. But they don’t actually call or reach out tangibly. I do understand that no one knows what to say. I wouldn’t either. But it’s interesting how true suffering has to be done alone. Only Christ can really bear that burden with us! THAT is what I try to hold onto each day. That when I’m suffering- I’m closest to his heart.
Suffering is difficult. Suffering alone is unbearable. But we are never alone!
Thank you so much for your perspective! I actually wrestled with the same social media discouragement this week even though I have all of the things you said you were discouraged about seeing as successes in others! Your reminder to identify with Christ as he was humbled during his crucifixion helps me not to feel so alone in that. The one who has it all can identify with my loneliness and rejection. Thank you Lord for humbling yourself so that I can know that truth!
In a season full of changes and new opportunities for me, I feel like any time that something doesn’t go according to my plan that I have failed. I immediately see more of the people who were successful in their journeys and feel the mocking that comes from seeing others be where you want to be. Lord, help me understand that it is your plan and not my own! You will work it towards your good always!
Even when I don’t get I want, God you are worthy to be praised!
I have been recently feeling the gong of the mockers voice and the pounding gong of “stop trying to hard and your best days have passed”. Please pray for me to get a new job and for God to direct my steps in the right direction where his favor and provision abides. I am single mother of two and my contract at work will be coming to an end in 2 months. I have been sending out my resume for job openings to different places with no response or invitation to the interview. I also feel like God has placed a desire to start a business (as a life coach mostly to other single mothers) in my heart although I don’t really know how to go about setting up as yet.
This really resonates with me! I, too, have an inner struggle when I see pictures of friends’ engagements, weddings, new babies: on the one hand, I am genuinely excited for them and rejoice with them in their joy
Oops, I somehow hit “post” on accident.
Anyway, on the other hand, there is a part of me that feels a deep pain and longing over the reminder of things I desire but don’t even see anywhere on the horizon, and with that, a sense of loneliness. I’ve been fasting from social media for lent this year, and it has been so good for me. I can still rejoice when I hear the good news (a few sweet babies have been born to friends in just the past couple of weeks!), and my heart can take it better than seeing it on social media amongst the many other pictures of others’ highlight reel.
Even know I feel like I am all alone in my struggle! It’s almost like I am drowning and no one is willing to help. But I know God is giving me the strength to get through, because some days I just want to give up on everything!!!! But God is right there nudging me to keep going, and for that I am so thankful
Comparison is the thief of joy! It’s taken me a very long time to understand that statement. I am better at not getting sucked in to that “grass is greener” mentality, but it’s still there and shows its ugly head at times. But God doesn’t give you stones and snakes when you ask for them. I don’t know his plan for me, and I have to put my trust in him despite my lack of knowledge. I will keep my faith.
Today I struggled. I saw something in someone else life, something I truly desire and I wanted the same for my life rite now. And then I did this devotional and ohh did it knock me off my soap box.
I never knew how much I needed to hear all of this until today. I’ve been trying to tell myself that I am never alone, however, it is so much harder to believe when all I see is other peoples’ successes in life, getting so much further ahead than where I am now. Deep down I know that people experience times of loneliness just like I do, but often times the devil’s voice telling me it’s just me who suffers, is so much louder than the truth that I know to be. Thank You, Jesus, for Your love for us, and for suffering for us, so that we may never be alone.
The idea that we aren’t alone resonates with me at the moment. I recently wrote about my thoughts surrounding Mother’s Day and feeling alone. I’d love it if my rambling thoughts and feelings could be a blessing to some of you so please do go and read it, my friend graciously published it in her blog. https://www.rahabsribbon.com/home/me-too
I have struggled with the concept of feeling alone since suffering a late term miscarriage at the start of December and with mother’s days coming up it struck me that I won’t be the only one feeling alone so I attempted to gather my thoughts into something, I hope; will be a blessing to those who read it.
Suffering is different for every person. Events that cause intense grief for one person may just be a glancing blow for another. But the feeling of isolation in suffering is common to all. Regardless of what causes the suffering we feel alone, isolated, imprisoned by our pain. We can’t relate with those around us because everything else seems so trivial. But, regardless of my feelings, God has not abandoned me. He has not forgotten me. And He has not stopped loving me. My only “job” in suffering is to know God. To believe that His way is best. To follow where He leads. And, when life seems very dark, to cling even harder to the Truth.
Wow. Just wow.
To be known and to be loved and the two greatest things we need as humans. God gives us both and in a reverse because to us when he died on the cross he was not known and he was not loved. But to His Heavenly Father and to the heavenly hosts He was and was able to sacrifice himself so that we would never be alone and we would always be loved. Praise be to God for His bountiful gift of life!
I will not listen to the voices of mockers. I know, that I know that God is with me. He always has. He always will. I am blessed that I have many around me and reminding me that I’m not walking this journey alone.If anyone out there feels alone please re-read this devotion by Andrea and know that you are not alone. You have sisters here at she reads truth that are praying for you.
Hmmm.. Why is it that when someone announces or posts something good that is happening in their life, some of us interpret them as mocking us? Are they really “mockers?” Are we not to rejoice with those who rejoice as well as mourn with those who mourn? We do not often know the motive of another’s posting – does it not say more about us if we choose to interpret that as a slight somehow against us? Ahhh how hard it is to learn as Paul did, to be content in all things. Yes Job’s friends may have ‘piled on’ – and that’s very revealing about them. Job recounts his deep personal suffering and the added hurt that he had steadfastly “wept for those who have fallen on hard times” and “grieved for the needy.” Job’s friends did not treat him as he had treated others. They did not show grace or compassion. Job’s friends were cruel to Job in a way Job had never been to others. Yet, Job turns to God again and and reminds God of all his efforts to live a righteous life. Job’s friends can say what they want – Job knows the truth. He didn’t waste his breath arguing with them. He turns to God. May we do the same. May we not let our imaginations about other’s motives seem as truth. May we be introspective and honest about our circumstances. And may we turn to God for understanding and help. He alone has the correct perspective and the truthful answer.
When I found in December that because of my medical condition pregnancy would be unsafe for me, it felt like every time I opened my phone I saw a pregnancy or birth announcement. Unfortunately when you have certain heartbreaks, just seeing a picture can bring back all the pain. For me, it doesn’t mean that I can’t rejoice with my friends, but it can be at the same time a painful reminder of the dreams I have that are yet unfulfilled. Both those things can exist simultaneously.
Andrea Lucado…So far the best, most honest, most refreshing, most resonating (for me) commentary of all time. Thank you!!
The peace in KNOWING that I am never alone, not ever, not even for a moment.
Cassandra, May you feel God’s presence and strength wrapping around you. He is with you. I am praying for your friends and for your grandpa to seek God during these dark days. God bless you
How beautiful is this painful image: “Jesus has cried out on our behalf.” Jesus was alone for me. Jesus was alone, so I never will be. Hallelujah!
https://youtu.be/RSbJPZLNIuc
Hold onto the companionship of Christ and the knowledge of his suffering in hard times. What size direction. I have two very very important people in my life this week that have spoken of taking their own lives along with finding out hospice is coming into take care of my grandpa who is not a believer. It’s been a dark week. These words were a great reminder. Remember my relationship with the king of kings, my daddy and never forget the sacrifice he made for me in his death.
Praying for your Grandpa to receive Jesus before he passes…
May God’s Goodness, His Love, Mercy and Grace speak to your Grandpa to soften his hard head, stiff neck, and heart to provide the invitation of a lifetime to let go and let God hear those words, I Believe in You, I need a Savior, and the angels will take over from there. His life may be changed in a moment.
I’m praying over this along with you today. I almost never come look at the comments section, but for some reason I did today, and for some reason yours was the first that caught my eye. My grandma who isn’t a believer has been requesting hospice care after fracturing her pelvis a few weeks ago, and two other family members have been suffering with depression and suicidal thoughts. So my heart is truly with you. I pray you will feel unshakable peace today.
Amen. May praise be lifted to our Lord and Savior, Jesus.
We never have to be alone or separated from God because Jesus did that for us—I never looked at his sacrifice for me from that perspective. His blessings are abundant and merciful!
Thank You, Jesus for suffering and being able to relate and understand what we experience here. Although Your suffering on the Cross is hard to even fathom. I’ve imagined You seeing, hearing, and feeling every sin that was ever committed, not to mention being mocked, spat upon, and the physical torture. You could have stopped it all. They were beating You and putting nails in You, and You were sustaining their life and giving them breath. You were also sustaining all of creation and providing for the creatures of the earth while enduring the Cross. One pastor refered to the verse that says; for the joy set before Him, He endured the Cross. He is an elderly pastor and was still amazed by that. You are truly amazing! You are worthy of praise, glory, and honor! Thank You that we can turn to You for comfort, and an example of how to live. Thank You for eternal life in glory! Thank You for Your love!
Wow-so beautifully said and Amen!!!