As a child, I loved the action-packed stories of the Bible. I met the parting of the Red Sea in Exodus 14 with amazement. Wonder filled me as I pictured David, a young shepherd boy, take down the giant Goliath in 1 Samuel 17. The imagery and storytelling in Jesus’ parables drew me in and captured my attention.
My growth from childhood to adolescence paralleled my growth in studying the Scriptures. I began to hold firm to the conviction the narratives were not fables to read but reality to see. I learned the individual passages were not to be isolated from their context but to be understood in the light of the whole counsel of God. These two areas of growth and maturity as a student of Scripture led me to the book of Job. Through the life of Job, I saw the reality of suffering and the need for a Savior within the context of human history.
Like a sudden downpour, Job is showered with suffering. Consecutive news breaks to Job that he has lost his servants, his livestock, and his children (1:13-19). The toppling news is more than Job can bear. Then, on top of all that, Job gets struck with sores all over his body. With the sorrow filling his soul and the breakdown of his body, notice Job’s surprising response to the suffering. He understandably mourns and grieves over his losses, but he does not give up on God.
He still blesses and gives praise to God (1:20-21). When the counsel of the person closest to him advises, “Curse God and die” (2:9), Job remains faithful to God. The rest of the book does not shy away from sharing the struggles in Job’s heart as he pleads with God and questions God. In the end, though, Job looks to the Lord in trust through the midst of suffering.
The reality of Job’s sufferings hit home as I grew in adolescence and my parents began to struggle with their health. My father had a disease, but it took years before we finally arrived at a diagnosis: Parkinson’s disease. Then came news he additionally had Non-Hodgkin’s Lymphoma and needed treatment. My mother’s myriad of health issues also led to her diagnosis of multiple myeloma. In addition to disability, death entered our family. In the span of one year, I lost three of my grandparents.
Yet, the hardships of life did not cause my parents to grow hard-hearted toward God. Instead, these trials moved them to a greater trust in God. Their response to suffering exemplified the character of Job and served as an example for dealing with my own sufferings.
Nevertheless, dealing with suffering does not occur without a real struggle. Job, a man described as truly righteous, fearing God and turning away from evil (1:1), found himself asking questions in the midst of his suffering. When we see and experience trials, we often ask, “Why is there suffering in the world?” Scripture tells us suffering is one of the consequences of living in a fallen and sinful world.
A particular person’s suffering may not exactly correlate to their sin, but as sinners who live in a fallen world, we can expect suffering. The reason Job suffered was not because of his own sin, but we do see by the end of the book Job has cause for repentance (42:1-6). Looking at Job’s life in the context of Scripture, we see suffering reminds us we live in a sinful and fallen world that longs for a Savior.
Suffering should not lead us to despair. Job teaches us God is not absent in our suffering, but he is sovereign over it. God may grant Satan the opportunity to bring suffering, but he has given his Son to bring salvation. The reality of suffering should lead us to a living hope. It is this hope that Job clings to when he says, “For I know that my Redeemer lives, and at the last he will stand upon the earth” (19:25).
As we see the puzzle piece of Job’s story fit into the storyline of the Bible, we come to meet this living Redeemer in Jesus Christ. The sting of suffering and sin does not have the final word, because the living Redeemer has defeated death by giving his life for all who repent of their sin and believe in him for salvation (Gal. 3:13). The suffering of Job is a pointer to the salvation of Job, only found in Jesus Christ.
Do we have a biblical perspective when suffering comes? In this life, we are guaranteed to go through suffering. We can expect it and must understand it through the lens of God’s sovereignty. As I witness the reality of Job’s suffering and the suffering that surrounds me in this life, I cling to the salvation found in Jesus Christ. The greatest thing suffering can do is point to redemption in the Savior. I have the teacher Job to thank for that lesson.
Fight for a Generation with Love
With a foreword by Joni Eareckson Tada and the story written by Chonda Ralston, the scene is appropriately set in a children’s class on a Sunday morning at church. The colorful illustrations by Trish Mahoney will invite the children’s attention. Written in rhyme, the story introduces a new kid to the class who has special needs. This gives the teacher, Ms. Campbell, the opportunity to share about special needs, how some disabilities are clear and others are not as evident. Wyatt plays with a toy to help him focus and keep his hands to himself. Jamal is in a wheelchair but is included in activities because “we should never exclude based on a disability”. Along the way, the children learn in passages like Psalm 139 God made each of them with great care and disabilities are not germs but a part of creation. The lesson reminds each kid their value as 1 Corinthians 12 highlights “Every member has value and a part to play”.
The book opens with a scene of kids at recess during the school day. Maya likes playing football, but Lucas teases her that liking and playing football will turn her into a boy. This leads to a conversation in class by Mr. Ramirez on God’s design for gender. The class of children learn being a boy or girl is in your blood (it is biological), sin has messed with and mixed up God’s plan and truth for human hearts and bodies, but God has sent Jesus who redeems us. The kids learn the biblical truth about gender and also how to love those who disagree or are confused.
As a kid, I was afraid of the dark. More than that, though, I remember what my caring parents did in response to comfort me. They shared with me Scripture. They pointed me to passages to ensure me the Lord was with me and watching over me. I still recall the piece of paper my parents wrote a Bible verse on for me to read anytime fear started to creep in my mind and heart. That piece of paper was the encouragement I needed to overcome my fear and to look to the Lord in faith, trusting in His care. What that piece of paper did for me is what Champ Thornton’s new book Why Do We Say Good Night? will do for children of today who are scared of the dark and afraid of nighttime.
Edited by the late David Powlison and illustrated by the artistic Joe Hox, this tale features Gus Raccoon and the grips sweets have on him. The rule of no sweets in the bedroom is broken by Gus (and eaten all in one night). While his Papa reads the Easter story, Gus’s focus is on the treats in his Easter gift. When his family shops at the market, Mr. Hogster is kind enough to allow Gus and his friend to sample his treats. Gus cannot help himself and stuffs his cheeks and paws full. Upon leaving the market, Papa reaches for Gus’s paw and his son’s problem is found out as the sweets fall to the ground. This leads to a conversation between Gus and Papa, who can relate, about always wanting more. Gus learns that even good gifts can become an issue when they are sought after and loved too much, having a grip on him.
Edited by Edward T. Welch and illustrated by Joe Hox, Henry Says Goodbye is a moving story about Henry Hedgehog and his pet lady bug, Lila. He cherishes his pet, taking her to school, and introducing her to all his friends. He enjoys the times of fun together and caring for her. Then, one day Lila the lady bug is not feeling well. Henry heads off to school and upon returning home later that day, Henry’s mother shares Lila has died. He takes the news hard. His dad shares with Henry he too went through the loss of a pet and his father encouraged him to share his feelings of loss with God and others, reminding him of the comforting truth in the Good Book that God keeps a record of tears. After facing questions and dealing with grief and anger, Henry finds comfort from this biblical truth as he is comforted by family and friends.
Written with the profoundness of a seminary professor and with the heart of a father, Gibson uses an analogy of the moon to teach children on the character of God. With wonderfully-done illustrations by Joe Hox, the story is written from the perspective of a young boy who looks at the sky and sometimes the moon appears round and other nights it does not. His dad reminds him whether the moon appears that way or not, the truth is “The moon is always round.” When the boy’s family celebrates with an expected baby sister on the way, the moon is round. When the parents grieve the death of their stillborn child, the father reminds the boy “The moon is always round”. At the funeral, the father speaks to family and friends and says, “The moon is always round.” Looking to his son, he asks, “What does that mean?” The young boy answers, “God is always good.”
Entrusted By God Ministries 