Just hold on

It’s Job’s turn again. Turn to find the words to express his anguish. Again my paraphrase. This time of chapters 6 to 8 of the book of Job.

Job: If only you knew. If only you could understand. If only you could see how much I am suffering. Don’t blame me for what I’m saying. I can’t help it. God is allowing me to suffer, I don’t know why, and it’s killing me. Everything is against me. Nothing is going my way.

No one cries out like this when things are going right for them. Of course they don’t. Not even animals. They don’t shout if they’re not hungry.

If only God would listen and let me die. That’s all I want. I’ve had enough of this life. If only He would let me go. Before I give in and let Him down.

I have no strength left to hope any more. I have nothing to look forward to. I’m no superhero. I don’t have special powers. I can’t help myself any more. I can’t do any more than I’m already doing.

My friends won’t help me. They’re no help at all. I can’t rely on them to do what I want. To give me what I need. They came here thinking they could make a difference, only to be disappointed. What can they do realistically? What can anyone do?

Have I ever asked anything of you before? Help me now. Tell me what I’m doing wrong. Honesty is painful, but I don’t understand what you’re getting at. What are you trying to say? Are you trying to explain away my suffering?

Look at me. Just look at me. Would I lie to you? Just help me please.

We’re all just human. Mere mortals, that’s all. Life is hard. And pretty meaningless at times. For months, I’ve been waiting now. Waiting for relief. Waiting for this suffering to come to an end. The nights are so long, so unbearably long. I can’t sleep. The nights drag on and on.

My skin is broken and infected. I’m covered in scabs all over my body. I feel like I’m crawling with insects. Maybe I am. You have no idea.

Every day comes and goes without hope. There is no hope.

The only thing keeping me alive is that I’m still breathing. I will never live fully again. I will never feel happy again. Soon I will be gone. Soon it will all be over. You will never see me again.

So I’m not going to stay quiet now. I will have my say. You can’t tell me to stay quiet and keep all my pain to myself.

There’s no comfort in sleep either, you know. You should see my terrifying dreams. I’d rather die than live a moment longer. Oh God, please let me go. My days have no meaning any more, just one long path of pain with no end in sight. Why is living such a big deal? Why do human beings matter so much to you? Why do you pay us so much attention? Can’t you just leave me alone and let me slip away quietly? Can’t you just look the other way? What I have done to deserve this? Why are you laying all this at my door? Are you doing this on purpose? Are you allowing all this for a reason?

Just let me lie down.

Just let me find rest.

Just let me die.

Wow. Powerful stuff from Job there. Distressing words for his friends to listen to. I’ll revisit some of that tomorrow – the whole ‘What have I done to deserve this?’ thing.

For now, let’s hear what Job’s friend Bildad has to say in Job 8.

Bildad: Stop talking like this, Job! You’ve no idea what you’re saying. Are you saying God’s got it wrong? Be careful, man. You know that everyone is punished for their sin. It’s always been that way. But you’re a good man, Job. If you follow God and do the right thing, He’ll hear you when you call out to Him. You know that. It’s not too late, Job. God can restore you to how things were before. He can turn things around for you. Don’t give up hope now.

Ask the older generation what they have learned about this. They know more than we do. They’ve been around longer. They’ve seen more. Lived more. They’ll be able to help you, I’m sure. They’ll have the right words. We’re rooted in our history. We’re rooted in our tradition of following the one true God. We can’t turn our back on God. We’ve all seen what happens then. God is our lifeline, our source, our hope.

If we don’t have God, we have nothing. Our hope is built on nothing. We have no roots, no lifeline, no source, no hope.

So take heart, my friend. God has not forgotten you. God has not abandoned you. You will laugh again. One day, we will hear you shout out in joy again. Just hold on. Just keep on keeping on.