Responding To The Trials of Life – Part 2

In part 1 of this article the point was made that while we can respond in a very spiritual way, we also need to be honest with God as to how we feel about the realities of life. Let’s use Job as an example. For those not familiar with the Bible, Job was a man living during the times of the Old Testament. He lost nearly everything he had, like some people do during tornadoes. His response to his extreme adversity reveals two sides – the spiritual and emotional.

Jobs initial response is one of worship and his acknowledgement of God’s sovereignty in verse Job 1:21, “The Lord gave, and the Lord has taken away. Blessed be the name of the Lord.” However,  chapter three says that Job “cursed the day of his birth.” This entire chapter is one of lamenting his physical and emotional state. He fell into severe depression, stating in verse 11, “Why did I not die at birth, come out from the womb and expire?” His lamenting is scattered all through the Book of Job. What is significant is that Job never tried to spiritualize or “sugar coat” his horrible conditions.

Job’s attitude began to change as recorded in verse Job 13:15. “Though he slay me, I will hope in him.” And in 19:25 he says, ”I know that my redeemer lives…,” and recognizes the sovereignty of God, “that you can do all things, and that no purpose of yours can be thwarted” (Job 42:2).

It can be seen from this story that one’s emotions can easily override one’s spiritual qualities. What is important to realize is that a person’s spiritual growth and emotional maturity are not necessarily linked together. “It goes back…to a spirituality, divorced from emotional health – one that allows deep, underlying layers of our lives to remain untouched by God” writes pastor and author Peter Scazzero in his book, “Emotionally Healthy Spirituality.” * We must honestly express our real down deep feelings in order for them to surface.

I can speak from personal experience how important it is to not pretend you are okay in the name of being spiritual. The common response of “I’m fine” to the question, “How are you doing?” can be a very dishonest answer to oneself and to others. I went through a time in my life when I played “emotional hide and seek.” There were hidden hurts in my life that no one knew. You can put spiritual bandages on emotional wounds, but the bleeding will still be there! Many people sitting in our church congregations, if the truth were known, have hidden hurts, and they have been taught that it is not spiritual to talk about them. However, one of the most popular radio call-in talk shows on Christian radio is one where Christians express their emotional and relational/family adversities to certified Christian counselors.

This is where recovery ministries and small groups in churches can be of great value. I firmly believe that every church needs to have a small group ministry, especially large ones. In this setting, people are more comfortable bringing their hidden hurts out in the open.

Let us, as Christians, heed the words of scripture to be thankful in all circumstances, look for the blessings, and acknowledge the sovereignty and purposes of God. But in doing so, let’s don’t try to spiritualize the reality of the trials we may be experiencing. Letting others know what we have been, or are, going through, will help us heal, and will also make it possible to better relate to others.

*Peter Scazzero, Emotionally Healthy Spirituality, Thomas Nelson, 2006, page 20