Author: Jay N. Forrest

“Shall we actually accept good from God but not accept adversity?” (Job 2:10 NASB).

Job is one of the oldest books in the Bible. It tells the story of a righteous man who loses everything in life. First, he loses his family, then his wealth, then his health, and finally his reputation. His wife advises him to curse God and die, while his best friends are sure Job has a secret sin.

But the book of Job lets us know what is going on behind the scenes. God’s bragging on Job, and pointing out to Satan how righteous Job is. Satan accuses Job of only serving God for the blessings. So God tells Satan that he has permission to take away all his blessings. Which Satan does.

That is when Job says, “the Lord gave, and the Lord has taken away; blessed be the name of the Lord” (Job 1:21). Job’s response to losing all the blessings in life is to worship God. Which reminds me of Hebrews 13:15, “let us continually offer a sacrifice of praise to God, that is, the fruit of lips that confess his name.” Praise is only a “sacrifice” when it is given when we don’t feel like it.

Then Satan returns to the Lord, and God points out how well Job has responded. To which Satan accuses Job of only caring about himself (Job 2:4). So God lets Satan take Job’s health. After repeated rounds of his friends accusing him of sin, Job tells them concerning God, “Though He slay me, yet will I trust Him. ” (Job 13:15 NKJV).

I am no Job. But recently, within a week, I was in an accident in which my car was totaled, my boss let me go because I didn’t have transportation, I had a cold, and I took a tumble in a Pizza place and landed on my face, breaking my glasses. I was reminded of the story of Job.

Eventually we all have Job moments, where we are tested to see if we follow God because we love him or because we love his blessings. I remember what the Lord Jesus said about the Apostle Paul, “I myself will show him how much he must suffer for the sake of my name” (Acts 9:16).

This has not been my first Job moment. I remember the last time, I lost my Job, my wife, by daughters, and my home. The difference is that this time it was near painless, because my “all on the altar” was laid. I have come a long way, but I have a long way to go. For I also remember, “if you think you are standing, watch out that you do not fall” (1 Cor. 10:12). And, “Pride goes before destruction and a haughty spirit before a fall” (Prov. 16:18).

You have longed for sweet peace,
And for faith to increase,
And have earnestly, fervently prayed.
But you cannot have rest,
Or be perfectly blest,
Until all on the altar is laid.
– E. A. Hoffman

“For as he thinks within himself, so he is.” (Prov. 23:7  NASB).

Imagine with me for a moment.

You’re in a grocery store, and there’s a bunch of rude people all around you. The store is busy, it’s hectic, and you just want to get out of there. All of a sudden, someone pushes you from behind. You’re angry, you’re frustrated. You are going to turn aground and confront that jerk.

But when you turn around, all you see is a blind man who accidentally bumped into you. Instantly, your anger and frustration go away, and you feel sympathy. What changed?

The event is the same. You were pushed. But your interpretation of the event has changed. And that changed of judgment is what has changed your emotional state. You think differently, so now you feel differently.

It was Epictetus, a Stoic philosopher, who said, “It’s not things that upset us, but our judgments about things.” It is not people who upset us, but our judgments about them. The event of being pushed didn’t upset the shopper, it was his or her interpretation that it was intentionally done by a jerk. Once the interpretation changed, the feeling changed.

One of the great lessons in life is to realize that feelings follow our thoughts. We can change the way we feel by changing the way we think. This is a great help in times of stress and grief and loss. How we conceptualize and judge the event, produces the way that we feel.

This great truth, that our judgments about events and people create the way we feel, is the basis of cognitive behavioral therapy. CBT is the most successful psychotherapy that’s currently available for mood disorders. You can take that element of truth and apply it to your own life.

Look at the way that you feel, and examine the way you’re thinking. See the connection between your thoughts and your feelings. So if you’re feeling depressed and sad and lonely, stop and look at the way that you’re thinking. Notice how your thoughts are negative, how your thoughts focus on loss, on the pain. Now try to change those thoughts and replace them with positive thoughts, realistic thoughts, thoughts that build you up and encourage you. As a wise man once said, “For as he thinks within himself, so he is” (Prov. 23:7).

N., I lay my hands upon you
in the Name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit, beseeching our Lord Jesus Christ
to sustain you with his presence,
to drive away all sickness of body and spirit, and
to give you that victory of life and peace
which will enable you to serve him both now and evermore.
Amen.

_________
This is from the Book of Common Prayer according to the Episcopal Church.

O Father of mercies and God of all comfort, our only help in time of need: We humbly ask You to behold, visit, and relieve Your sick servant N. for whom our prayers are desired.

Look upon them with the eyes of Your mercy; comfort them with a sense of Your goodness; preserve them from the temptations of the enemy; and give them patience under their affliction.

In Your good time, restore them to health, and enable them to lead the rest of their life in Your reverence, and to Your glory; and grant that finally they may dwell with You in life everlasting; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

_________
This is from the Book of Common Prayer according to the Episcopal Church.