Bitter or Better

Bitter or Better


While he was still speaking, yet another messenger came and said, “Your sons and daughters were feasting and drinking wine at the oldest brother’s house, when suddenly a mighty wind swept in from the desert and struck the four corners of the house. It collapsed on them and they are dead, and I am the only one who has escaped to tell you!” At this, Job got up and tore his robe and shaved his head. Then he fell to the ground in worship and said: “Naked I came from my mother’s womb, and naked I will depart. The Lord gave and the Lord has taken away; may the name of the Lord be praised.”
Job 1:18-21 NIV

I think it is intriguing how two people can go through an identical circumstance and yet they have two very different perspectives. One will say that it wasn't that difficult and the other will lament the pain and frustration. I think it is true that we will all go through something terrible and how we come out the other side depends on our response, how we choose to handle the problem.

I read about a famous Christian musician that lost his grandmother. When he learned that his grandmother had died, he ran into the street and started crying and worshiping God... in the middle of the night. People came out of their homes, dressed in pajamas and robes to find this man singing praise songs, crying and proclaiming the greatness of the Lord. The neighbors joined in and worshiped the Lord, at night, in the middle of the street.

When you experience loss, what is your response? You get to choose... You can choose to become bitter or you can trust God and let Him make you better. Your pain, your troubles, your sufferings make you capable of tending to the needs of others. I think it is a selfish thing to assume that someone else can't understand your troubles. No trouble (or temptation) has seized you that is not common to all men (1 Corinthians 10:13). True, some people are better equipped to comfort others if they have faced the same trouble. But generally, compassion for others often times comes on the heels of our own struggles, no matter what they are. I would venture to say that sometimes, the way to healing, the way to get better is to serve someone else in need. Your blessing may not come until you serve others. When we face these trials and maintain trust in God in spite of our hardships, that is what pushes bitterness out the door.