In May
2011, a young woman took cover in a bathtub during a tornado that devastated
her city of Joplin, Missouri. Her husband covered her body with his and took
the blows from flying debris. He died, and she survived because of his heroism.
She naturally wrestles with the question, “Why?” But a year after the tornado,
she said that she finds comfort because even on her worst day ever, she was
loved.
When I
think about “worst days ever,” I think of Job right away. A man who loved God,
he lost his animals, his servants, and his 10 children in one day! (Job
1:13-19). Job mourned deeply, and he also asked the “Why?” questions. He cried
out, “Have I sinned? What have I done to You . . . ? Why have
You set me as Your target?” (7:20). Job’s friends accused him of sinning and
thought he deserved his difficulties, but God said of his friends: “You have
not spoken of Me what is right, as My servant Job has” (42:7). God did not give
him the reasons for his suffering, but He listened to Job and did not fault him
for his questions. God assured him of His control over everything, and Job
trusted Him (42:1-6).
The Lord may not give us the reasons for our trials. But, thankfully, even on our worst day ever, we can know for sure we are loved by Him (Rom. 8:35-39).
