Job vs. Romans 8:28
One may ask, “Are things going wrong because I don’t have enough faith?” No, God’s Providence is not contingent upon anything but His infinite and unconditional love for us. Still, how is God loving and providing for Job? Are we being tested when think are difficult? God does test, but not just because He can; He invites us to more and purifies us from sin, and in the process, we either love God wither perseverance or we leave.[1]
“Pray that you may not undergo the test.”(Luke 22:40, Matthew 26:41). It seems counter-intuitive that One who knows us and is able to anticipate our choices would have to test us. However, He allows free will, giving us the opportunity to disembark or turn away from life with Him. Thus, this life with God would not mean anything it didn’t have the choice to abandon it. When things get difficult, we are given an opportunity to love and reveal to what extent. If all is easy, we are madly in love with God, and “nothing” could change that, but then something bad happens and we are mad at God, do we really love Him? Thus, trial is an opportunity to be romantic with God. Let nothing disturb us.
We are called beyond where we are. Many Christians deceive themselves. “I pray every day and obey all the rules”. However does this not remind us of the rich young man (cf. Mark 10:17–31)? Do we just do what is asked of us? The Christian life is not about being a good person, but abiding in Christ and He in us. We can never give God too much nor cease needing Him in every moment. Let not our hearts be deceived for God is always inviting us further. Where we are now is not where God is calling us to be. If our possessions are taken away, do we stop following God? Do we grasp at things of this world? How is God calling us to love better?
Rooting out sin is a lifelong process.[2] We cannot just try really hard. We need God to slowly cultivate our hearts, over many seasons, reaping and sowing. If we tear up the life-sucking, nutrient consuming, and growth quenching weeds all at once, we will all pull up what is good(cf. Matthew 13:24-30). Conversion is a turning toward God and a turning from sin. This process is slow and painful, even sometimes with much strife and abrupt moments in which God noticed and acted on an opportunity to remove sin without much damage. We are called this to cooperate with His grace.
In conclusion, we can see how God was accomplishing something awesome in Job's life. Truly “everything works for the good of those who love God”(Romans 8:28). There is nothing God will bring to us that is not meant for good. Hardship proves love. When calls us deeper into life with Him, asks us to do something difficult, do we run or embrace it? When God calls us from sin, do we continue engaging in lust, anger, envy, pride, gluttony, sloth, and/or greed? Do we follow Him for all our worth in peace? He didn’t say it would be easy, he said it would be worth it. If we recognize the extreme difficulty, then we can understand the extreme worth of perseverance. "Let us take what God gives and give what He takes with a smile." Teresa of Calcutta
Lord help me to love Thee
Even though it darkness I be
How wouldst not Thou provide for me?
Your grace lacks no sufficiency
Lord these trials too are a gift
From them let not my weight shift
It is for you and you alone that I live
Let me give what you take and take what you give
The eyes of others only seem to condemn
But I, Lord, like and with Thee shall try to love them.
What may harm me now that I abide in Thee?
For there is nothing Thee withholds from me
In my weakness I fly to Thee,
Thy strength made manifest be
Prone I am to turn from Thee
Lord Jesus Christ forgive Me
FN:
- Catechism of the Catholic Church, 2nd ed. (Washington, DC: United States Catholic Conference, 2000), 2846, 2848-9.
- CCC, 1693.
