Job is hard

Our bible study group is studying the book of Job at the moment. And I am finding it hard... Really hard. The studies that we are going through are really good, and I feel that I'm learning a lot from them. But at the same time a lot of it is hard to swallow. On an academic level, I can come to terms with the concepts so far:

- Everything is God's and is His to give and take away. Tick.
- Through suffering, we can bring glory to God through our actions and our response to our circumstances. Tick.
- On a personal level, suffering is not just a matter of cause and effect. Such as in Job's case, he was (in Gods words) "...he is blameless and upright, a man who fears God and shuns evil" (1:8). Yet he still suffered as part of God's greater purpose. Tick.

OK. So far, I'm down with all this. As a Christian, I can understand this and it does provide comfort. But when I'm presented with a friend who doesn't know Christ and who has suffered greatly, what can I say? None of these things are going to provide them any comfort...

Now in the wonder of blogging, at the start of writing this post, I had no answers. But putting down these thoughts is leading me to the conclusion that I find comfort in the lessons in Job through the power of the Holy Spirit. It brings me to a true understanding and peace, as it says in 1 Cor 2:9-12:

9However, as it is written:
"No eye has seen,
no ear has heard,
no mind has conceived
what God has prepared for those who love him" - 10 but God has revealed it to us by his Spirit.
The Spirit searches all things, even the deep things of God. 11For who among men knows the thoughts of a man except the man's spirit within him? In the same way no one knows the thoughts of God except the Spirit of God. 12We have not received the spirit of the world but the Spirit who is from God, that we may understand what God has freely given us.

So, should we explain what we learn in Job to someone who doesn't know God in an attempt to help them understand and get through their troubles? Well probably no. Explaining the concepts in Job as a starting point will most likely get someone who doesn't know God nowhere, except possible further from God with a harder heart.

What can we do then? We can walk beside our friends, we can love them and do whatever we can to help them through whatever they may be going through. We can tell them of the saving grace that we have and they can have too through Jesus. But most importantly, we can pray, pray that God would reveal Himself to them and that they would turn to Him.

I know, i know....

It has certainly been a while since my last post. I assure you that it was one of my resolutions on starting this blog that i wouldn't just post one or 2 times and then abandon it. Well here is number 3 so i've made it....

I think possibly part of my lack of posting has been due to a persistent lack of any coherent gathering of thoughts over the last few weeks. But one has been pervading my mind most of all:

Why is it so easy to be engrossed in God's word when I'm in a group context and I'm learning from or studying with others but so hard to concentrate and commit myself when I am alone? I was at a meeting for our upcoming Tambar Springs Mission recently and we spent some time discussing the bible and in particular trawling through its pages finding great memory verses. I loved it, I was enthralled. But when I'm alone, sometimes it's so hard to find enthusiasm for reading the same words.

I guess this shows the importance of the church as a body of people gathering and encouraging each other, but it still leaves me with the same problem.

I'd love to hear what you guys think about these things. What your experiences have been, and whether you have any ideas or suggestions.