When Life Is Hard Don’t Keep Quiet!

Job 7:11 – “Therefore I will not keep silent;

I will speak out in the anguish of my spirit,

I will complain in the bitterness of my soul.

The book of Job is a painful story of heartache, suffering, pain, anguish and stress. Job was the richest man in his time. Job had a great family. Job was a God-fearing man. Job lived the life we all dream of!

The story suddenly changes when Satan asks to prove to God and the whole universe that Job was only God-fearing because life was good. Satan takes away all of Job’s wealth. Satan kills all of Job’s children. Satan brings a disagreement between Job and his wife. Finally Satan takes away Job’s health and inflicts him with disease his entire body. Job moved from a life we all dream of to a life we all dread and unfortunately experience!

Job’s friends visit him and accuse him of being a sinner. They tell him that he is suffering because he has committed some sins. The rest of the book of Job is an argument between Job and his friends, until the end where God intervenes and restores Job’s fortunes.

Job chapter seven is short but a painful expression of someone going through a very difficult life. A life of sleepless nights. A life where everything has failed. A hopeless life. A meaningless life. A life willing to embrace death rather than keep suffering. What do we learn from this chapter?

First, when life is at its worst, suicide is not an option. Job goes through the worst of times but suicide was never an option. He may have severally wished to die but never to take his own life. The story ends with a good life being restored to Job. When we go through a very dark moment, we should not give up, if we hang on, the dark moment will pass and a better day will come. However great the suffering we go through, suicide should never ever be an option. Seek help urgently if you feel suicidal. Counseling and medication can help!

Secondly, don’t keep quiet. In our text today, Job declares that he will not keep quiet. Express yourself. Tell someone. Write it down. Pray about it. There is healing in talking about the pain you are going through. Keeping quiet will harm you. If no one wants to listen, seeks religious leaders and counselors who will listen in confidentiality. When life is hard persevere but don’t keep quiet. Choose who tell, not people who will spread the word and hurt you, but people who will give you hope. When life is hard don’t keep quiet!

Thirdly, focus on God and not human dark forces. Not once did Job blame witchcraft. Not once did Job blame evil spirits. Job focused on God. Focusing on dark forces multiplies feelings of pain and helplessness. A good believer will focus on God only. A good believer will stop blaming evil forces. Constant blaming of evil forces gives them power over us at least mentally and we go around defeated. Stop talking about evil forces! Stop it! Job did not!

Job did not go around suspecting neighbors or relatives of bewitching him. Job did not make suggestions that some evil forces are working against him. That kind of talk doesn’t strengthen faith, instead it gives credence to our helplessness yet we belong to God. In your suffering just focus on God and God alone!

Even if we focus on evil forces, what will we do about it? Continuous reference to evil forces has no value to a believer. Why not focus on God who has power over evil forces. Even if you blame haters, neighbors and family, you remain powerless. Your blame doesn’t change them nor hurt them. You may be right but many times very wrong. Why not focus on God who has power to save?

Fourth lesson from this chapter is talk to God. Job suffers a great deal, but he talks to God. Great suffering expressed in Job chapter seven but it is addressed to God. Take it to the LORD in prayer.

Make a habit of secretly talking to God. Avoid formal prayers that impress listeners but fail to express your frustrations. Job prays Ina candid manner. He expresses his fears and frustration. Such prayers are better than formal prayers that impress people. Such prayers are not for public moments but secret time with God only.

Tell God you are tired. Tell God you feel like dying. Tell God you feel your life is meaningless. Tell God what and who you hate. Tell God your regrets. Tell God why you are tired of Him and His slowness in answering prayers. Ask God why He is quiet. Such prayers have more value in your relationship with God. When life is hard, don’t keep quiet, tell someone, but most importantly tell God exactly what you are going through!

Life can be very hard. Let us learn from Job and apply these four lessons today. In Jesus’s name, Amen!

Someone you know will only know about this article if you share with them. Someone you know needs this article. Share this with one more person. Don’t copy the text. Copy THE LINK or send the website address which is reikesis.com so that they too read the word of God FROM THE WEBSITE and access more. YOU CAN COMMENT on this article at the bottom of the article. Also remember this author has a YouTube channel @ReiKesis which has hundreds of videos for you! Thanks for your loyal support of this ministry!