There is a line from the song Unimaginable from the Broadway musical Hamilton that has been on my mind for a while. The line goes like this: “There are moments that the words don’t reach. There is suffering too terrible to name. You hold your child as tight as you can and push away the unimaginable.” As I thought about this song, I thought about how we have all been there, haven’t we? We all have moments in our lives when the ground beneath us feels like it crumbles and life throws us unexpected and at times unimaginable curveballs. We get the devastating diagnosis, we lose a loved one, we face an unexpected financial crisis, and more. Suddenly our world starts spinning out of control. The hard truth is, suffering is part of our experience as human beings on this earth. As unimaginable and devastating as our pain and hardships on this earth can be, we can take confidence that God is in control through it all.
If anyone understood what it was like to face a whirlwind of pain and suffering, it was Job. We read about his story in the Old Testament book of Job. In chapter 1, God had a conversation with Satan about Job. Job 1 tells us, “Then the Lord asked Satan, “Have you noticed my servant Job? He is the finest man in all the earth. He is blameless—a man of complete integrity. He fears God and stays away from evil” (verse 8). Satan rebutted that if Job had trials in his life and hard times, he would not be faithful or blameless. With this, God responded, “Alright, you may test him” (verse 12). This command set the course for Satan to test Job throughout the book. He lost his children, his wealth, his health, and more in just the blink of an eye. It was devastating for him. Throughout the devastation he faced, there was hope even from the beginning: God was in control. That is why Satan had to receive permission from God to do anything in Job’s life.
Perhaps it was confidence in God's control and power that allowed Job to respond to His unimaginable circumstances in the way that he did. Job could have immediately blamed God and abandoned his faith. Instead, Job responded saying, "He said, “I came naked from my mother’s womb, and I will be naked when I leave. The Lord gave me what I had, and the Lord has taken it away. Praise the name of the Lord!” (verse 21). In other words, Job recognized that he was not in control, but God was and he could praise God in the middle of his storm.
God was in control of Job's life, and He is in control of your life as well. We may not have answers for why we face pain and hardships, but we can be sure of one thing: God is in control. We can trust that nothing is outside of His power and control. What are you facing that feels unimaginable? Are you struggling to find hope in your circumstance? Look to God and His power. Remember that He is in control over everything, even our most difficult circumstances, and this, my friends, gives us peace.
When we face hardships and trials, we often need to remember God. We need to remember that He is in control. Take a few minutes to begin memorizing Job 1:21. Let this verse be a reminder to you through whatever you are facing that He is in control and worthy to be praised.
There once was a man named Job who lived in the land of Uz. He was blameless—a man of complete integrity. He feared God and stayed away from evil. He had seven sons and three daughters. He owned 7,000 sheep, 3,000 camels, 500 teams of oxen, and 500 female donkeys. He also had many servants. He was, in fact, the richest person in that entire area.
Job’s sons would take turns preparing feasts in their homes, and they would also invite their three sisters to celebrate with them. When these celebrations ended—sometimes after several days—Job would purify his children. He would get up early in the morning and offer a burnt offering for each of them. For Job said to himself, “Perhaps my children have sinned and have cursed God in their hearts.” This was Job’s regular practice.
One day the members of the heavenly court came to present themselves before the Lord, and the Accuser, Satan, came with them. “Where have you come from?” the Lord asked Satan.
Satan answered the Lord, “I have been patrolling the earth, watching everything that’s going on.”
Then the Lord asked Satan, “Have you noticed my servant Job? He is the finest man in all the earth. He is blameless—a man of complete integrity. He fears God and stays away from evil.”
Satan replied to the Lord, “Yes, but Job has good reason to fear God. You have always put a wall of protection around him and his home and his property. You have made him prosper in everything he does. Look how rich he is! But reach out and take away everything he has, and he will surely curse you to your face!”
“All right, you may test him,” the Lord said to Satan. “Do whatever you want with everything he possesses, but don’t harm him physically.” So Satan left the Lord’s presence.
One day when Job’s sons and daughters were feasting at the oldest brother’s house, a messenger arrived at Job’s home with this news: “Your oxen were plowing, with the donkeys feeding beside them, when the Sabeans raided us. They stole all the animals and killed all the farmhands. I am the only one who escaped to tell you.”
While he was still speaking, another messenger arrived with this news: “The fire of God has fallen from heaven and burned up your sheep and all the shepherds. I am the only one who escaped to tell you.”
While he was still speaking, a third messenger arrived with this news: “Three bands of Chaldean raiders have stolen your camels and killed your servants. I am the only one who escaped to tell you.”
While he was still speaking, another messenger arrived with this news: “Your sons and daughters were feasting in their oldest brother’s home. Suddenly, a powerful wind swept in from the wilderness and hit the house on all sides. The house collapsed, and all your children are dead. I am the only one who escaped to tell you.”
Job stood up and tore his robe in grief. Then he shaved his head and fell to the ground to worship. He said,
“I came naked from my mother’s womb,
and I will be naked when I leave.
The Lord gave me what I had,
and the Lord has taken it away.
Praise the name of the Lord!”
In all of this, Job did not sin by blaming God.
