Tender Not Tough

If anybody ever “went through it,” Job did.

Dude was wealthy, healthy, and had a huge, happy family…

And then, one day, all hell broke loose.

Job lost his wealth.

His children all died on the same day in a freak storm.

Job became sick and was in excruciating pain.

So how did Job respond to all of this?

When he lost his wealth and his children…

Job arose, tore his robe, and shaved his head; and he fell to the ground and worshiped. And he said: “Naked I came from my mother’s womb, and naked shall I return there. The Lord gave, and the Lord has taken away; blessed be the name of the Lord.” (Job 1.20, 21 NKJV)

When he became sick…

His wife said to him, “Are you still maintaining your integrity? Curse God and die!” He replied, “You are talking like a foolish woman. Shall we accept good from God, and not trouble?” In all this, Job did not sin in what he said. (Job 2.10 NIV)

Job’s wife, while going through incredible hardship, became tough.

Job stayed tender.

That’s unusual, impressive, and worth pausing to think about.

Selah.

When we’re “going through it” (and we will), we have a good example to model after…

Job, who was tender, not tough.