Holy Job experienced a series of misfortune but his patience amongst these was so heroic that it was commended by God, his reward was great even on earth. Holy scriptures hold it up for our imitation.
“Behold, we account them blessed who have endured. You have heard of the patience of Job, and you have seen the end of the Lord, that the Lord is merciful and compassionate.”
~James 5:11
When all kinds of calamities befell him, one after the other in rapid succession, his only support was patience. Imagine losing all his goods and having his children killed by the fall of a house and not once did he murmur. He worshipped God saying “The Lord gave and the Lord hath taken away, blessed be the name of the Lord”
Job’s afflictions also affected his own body. He was smitten with grievous ulcers from head to foot. What a pitiable sight it must have been, so much that his wife cried out, that it is better to end his life than live in such a state. He responded: “If we have received good things at the hand of the Lord, why should we not receive evil?”
In times of trouble, it is natural to seek comfort from friends but for Job, it was not the case. They taunted him and called him a vain man lifted up by pride. Poor Job at this point, could not restrain the expression of his misery. He poured forth words of sorrow yet he never lost confidence in God. This heroic act is one to meditate on, especially in moments when we are reproached undeservedly, to be gentle and patient as Job was.
What then was the source of Job’s patience? It is not that he didn’t feel any pain but a simple subservience to the will of God.
With satisfaction that whatever the good Lord pleases, he said: “As it has pleased the Lord, so let it be done”
