I Do Not Deserve This, So There is Hope!
Have you ever made that statement or at least thought it? I know I have. Why is it that we think we do not deserve the bad things that we do not like to happen to us? Why do we think we are unworthy of experiencing difficult things in our lives? Is it because we believe that good things should happen to good people and bad things should happen to bad people? If that is the case, like me, you must think you and I are relatively good. Well, like me, you probably think we are relatively good compared to some people we know or have heard about. We are not murderers, we are not thieves, except for maybe the occasional pen or piece of paper we take from work to use for something personal-but that doesn’t count, does it? We do not abuse our wives or husbands or our children like some people do. We live a life as a basically “good” person, probably better than most and not quite as good as others.
Let us look at what the Bible says about this and how I believe it brings us hope. When I think about not deserving bad things I think immediately of Job. As it says in Job 1:9-12 “And the Lord said to Satan, ‘Have you considered my servant Job, that there is none like him on the earth, a blameless and upright man, who fears God and turns away from evil?’ Then Satan answered the Lord and said, ‘Does Job fear God for no reason? Have you not put a hedge around him and his house and all that he has, on every side? You have blessed the work of his hands, and his possessions have increased in the land. But stretch out your hand and touch all that he has, and he will curse you to your face.’ And the Lord said to Satan, ‘Behold, all that he has is in your hand. Only against him do not stretch out your hand.” So, Satan went out from the presence of the Lord.'” (ESV) at that point Satan took away Job’s possessions, and his children. So, even being righteous does not mean that bad things will not happen to you.
The story continues when Satan appears before God again and in essence says that because he did not harm Job, then of course his response was expected. So, he asked if he could but touch Job’s body, then he would respond differently. So, God allowed it and Satan caused boils all over Job’s body. The description is terrifying at least to me. I do not like pain. Job’s wife even tells him to curse God and die. But Job responds, “… ‘You speak as one of the foolish women would speak. Shall we receive good from God, and shall we not receive evil?’ In all this Job did not sin with his lips.” Job 2:10 (ESV) It is important I think to notice that Job has not sinned up to this point.
Through the following chapters, Job laments his situation and seeks God’s justice as Job sees it. I see two very important and clear messages which are summed up in these two verses.
“For I know that my Redeemer lives, and at the last he will stand upon the earth. And after my skin has been thus destroyed, yet in my flesh I shall see God,” Job 19:25-26 (ESV) Job points to a redeemer and he knows there will be a final judgement. Jesus is that redeemer and the Great White Throne Judgement is when we will all see God.
There is also a statement by Jesus in John that supports the idea that good people are not exempt from bad things. John 9:1-3 says, “As he passed by, he saw a man blind from birth. And his disciples asked him, ‘Rabbi, who sinned, this man or his parents, that he was born blind?’ Jesus answered, ‘It was not that this man sinned, or his parents, but that the works of God might be displayed in him.'” (ESV)
Consequently, whether we deserve something bad to happen to us is irrelevant because it is for the purpose of giving glory to God. Jesus says this in John and Job responds in this manner in Job 42:2-6, “‘I know that you can do all things, and that no purpose of yours can be thwarted. “Who is this that hides counsel without knowledge?” Therefore, I have uttered what I did not understand, things too wonderful for me, which I did not know. “Hear, and I will speak; I will question you, and you make it known to me.” I had heard of you by the hearing of the ear, but now my eye sees you; therefore, I despise myself, and repent in dust and ashes.'” (ESV)
The story of Job brings me hope because I know that my Redeemer lives, and He is fighting on my behalf. He will sustain me and help me through my trials. He will not give me more than I can endure. Charles Spurgeon said it better than I can.
“The limit is encouragingly comprehensive. The God of providence has limited the time, manner, intensity, repetition, and effects of all our sicknesses; each throb is decreed, each sleepless hour predestinated, each relapse ordained, each depression of spirit foreknown, and each sanctifying result eternally purposed. Nothing great or small escapes the ordaining hand of him who numbers the hairs of our head.
This limit is wisely adjusted to our strength, to the end designed, and to the grace apportioned. Affliction is not haphazard-the weight of every stroke of the rod is accurately measured. He who made no mistakes in balancing the clouds and meting out the heavens, commits no errors in measuring out the ingredients which compose the medicine of souls. We cannot suffer too much nor be relieved too late.
The limit is tenderly appointed. The knife of the heavenly Surgeon never cuts deeper than is absolutely necessary. ‘He doth not afflict willingly, nor grieve the children of men.’ A mother’s heart cries, ‘Spare my child;’ but no mother is more compassionate than our gracious God. When we consider how hard-mouthed we are, it is a wonder that we are not driven with a sharper bit. The thought is full of consolation, that he who has fixed the bounds of our habitation, has also fixed the bounds of our tribulation.”
Once it was proven that Job was truly righteous, God restored Job and abundantly blessed him even more than he was prior to the trials. I believe God will always restore us. We don’t know how or when, and it may not even occur in our earthly lifetime, but we also have our eternal lifetime. If you want God to bring restoration to you, you only need to trust in Jesus. If you need to know how then go here.
It might be helpful to better understand the principles described here to visit my past blog post. You can find them by going here.
You can find my book, Hope Amid Hopelessness: Our Abba Father Provides a Way Through Mental Illness here.
eBook or Audiobook versions can be found at Westbow Press or Christianbook.com at Amazon or Google
