Jobs

The book of Job 1:3, in The New Oxford Annonated Bible, states "Job was the greatest

man among all in the East." He was a faithful servant of God, he owned thousands of

animals, and had many servants and friends. Job had a very large family with seven sons

and three daughters. Why was Job chosen to suffer and receive punishment at the hands of

the Lord one may ask? The major themes in the book describe the ways Job deals with

suffering and despair the Lord handed him. How one deals with despair and suffering is

what makes a person who he or she is.

        The Lord is not a stranger to suffering. Psalms 69:33-36, states "The Lord hears

the needy and does not despise his captive people. Let heaven and earth praise him. The

seas and all that move in them. For God will save Zion and rebuild the cities of Judah.

Then people will settle there and possess it; the children of his servants will inherit it; and

those who love his name will dwell there." God does not intentionally inflict despair and

heartache on his believers for no reason at all. I think the despair we experience, and how

we deal with it, is a test to show our true selves.

        The Lord does not make us suffer because of what we have done. Through

suffering, we become better people and grow as an individual. You find your identity

through terrible experiences. I have dealt with serious heartache and do believe that I

have grown from it. I have learned how to react to certain situations and how to

overcome them.

         I looked up the word "suffering" in the bible, I was directed to Psalms 73:21-26.

It states, "When my heart was grieved and my...