Tag Archives: Job

The Times They Are a-Changin’

It’s an old Bob Dylan song but it rings truer every day. Not only is the world changing, quite rapidly, as I can’t keep up with what the new iPhone is available anymore, but life seems in constant motion and change. Do you ever feel like that? You just want the world to stop so you can get off for a minute. Or maybe you’re in the middle of a big change in your own life: a new baby, a move, a job change, a divorce, loss of a loved one, an empty nest, or retirement. Life is change. It never stays the same for long. And change is hard.

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My house is quiet now, well quieter. I do still have dogs that bark at butterflies fluttering past the front door. But where once my daughter was belting out song after song throughout the house or my son was telling me one of his nerdy jokes, the silence is deafening. They’ve gone off to college, and it’s quiet. Often too quiet.

Here’s one thing that I remember and cling to daily: “Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever.” (Hebrews 13:8)

That brings me comfort. In the roaring waves and rising tides of change, He is my anchor. He doesn’t change. And He is always there for me to cry out to in pain and uncertainty, in fear and confusion, in worry and strife.

When Peter climbed out of that boat to walk to Jesus (Matthew 14), he didn’t see the waves and depth of the water or the distance to shore. He only saw Jesus. It was later, when he felt the spray of water on his face and felt the weight of water soaking his clothes and pulling him down that he took his eyes off Jesus and onto his circumstances. Suddenly fear overwhelmed him. Doubt began to pull him under. Yet, he cried out to the Lord.

And that’s what we have to do. Maybe change was thrust upon you and you were not expecting to suddenly be alone. Lost. Broken. Hurting. Jesus is there, just waiting for you to cry out to Him.

Or maybe you chose a career change. Maybe change wasn’t thrust upon you but you made the change. Happily. Optimistically. Courageously. But then, maybe things didn’t go as you had imagined. Or maybe you didn’t realize the waves would be as massive. Or a sudden storm swept over you. Outside influences caused you to glance around, to see how scary it was out there, how alone you felt, how doubtful, how worried. It’s okay. Jesus is right there with you.

“But seek first His kingdom, and His righteousness, and all things will be given to you as well. “(Matthew 6:33)

“Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid or terrified because of them, for the Lord your God goes with you; he will never leave you nor forsake you.” Deuteronomy 31:6

Oh Father, change is so hard. We confess we’re scared and worried and feeling alone. But Your Word tells us You are here with us, that You will never leave us. Thank You that even though the world changes around us, life changes, circumstances change, our families change, our jobs change, but You never do. You are the same, yesterday, today, and tomorrow. Tuck us beneath the shelter of Your wing and protect us from the storms of life. Comfort our hearts. Ease the burdens that we are carrying. Fill us with Your truth and Your word. ‘For we know the plans You have for us, plans to prosper us and not to harm us, plans to give us hope and a future. (Jeremiah 29:11” Make our path smooth and straight, so that we can stand firm on Jesus, our rock, and bring glory to You.

My hope is built on nothing less
Than Jesus’ blood and righteousness;
I dare not trust the sweetest frame,
But wholly lean on Jesus’ name.

Refrain:
On Christ, the solid Rock, I stand;
All other ground is sinking sand,
All other ground is sinking sand.

When darkness veils His lovely face,
I rest on His unchanging grace;
In every high and stormy gale,
My anchor holds within the veil.

His oath, His covenant, His blood
Support me in the whelming flood;
When all around my soul gives way,
He then is all my hope and stay.

When He shall come with trumpet sound,
Oh, may I then in Him be found;
Dressed in His righteousness alone,
Faultless to stand before the throne.

On Christ, the solid Rock, I stand;
All other ground is sinking sand,
All other ground is sinking sand.

(The Solid Rock, by Edward Mote)

Hope is Available

I wonder if Robin Williams knew how loved he was? Did he know how much he would be missed? Look at the outpouring of love this week in the aftermath of his untimely death, I wonder if he knew. I suspect he didn’t. I suspect he couldn’t see beyond the pain he was feeling.

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The darkest time of my life came after the birth of my second child. I had two babies—a toddler under the age of 2 and a newborn. And I was depressed. I don’t mean I was tired and weary. Yes, I was. But I was truly depressed. It was a very dark time. On top of that, I felt guilty for the depression. After my firstborn was delivered, I felt euphoric. I was elated to be a mommy finally. So, it was hard for me to accept that after my second was born, I faced crazy tears and a darkness I had never experienced. Where was the joy over this new and healthy baby? Thankfully, I spoke to my doctor about my unusual feelings. We quickly realized that it was the birth control pills I went on right after her birth. All those hormones wreaked havoc on my system. I immediately got off the pills and my hormones regulated themselves. The storm clouds cleared. Sunshine returned.

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Depression comes in all shapes and sizes. For this optimist, it was a shock when I experienced it but it was also quite a shock to watch my father go through it after his heart surgery. It’s a common phenomenon for heart patients or anyone who has had a serious ailment to go through depression. My dad was like John Wayne–strong, confident, steady. And yet, to watch him go through depression was heartbreaking. Even more shocking to me was the lack of response by his heart doctor. My mother would slip a note to the nurse during a doctor visit telling her how depressed he was. The doctor would come in and say, “Are you depressed?” My father, being stoic and never accepting what he perceived as weakness, would deny it. And nothing would be done to help him.

My mother is also very calm and steady, so it was also a shock when she realized several years ago that she was depressed. She was unflappable during her bout with breast cancer. Her doctor kept asking her if she was depressed during follow-up visits because some medication she was on could cause depression. One day, my mom was watching Grumpy Old Men, a comedy, and she cried three times. That told her something was not right. Thankfully, she sought help.

Depression can be caused by hormones or medication or traumatic situations. Some people have an illness, which is depression, and there are all sorts of manifestations of that. Unfortunately, I have also known those who have not sought help. Robin Williams’ death by suicide brought that home to me again this week. I ache for his family and friends, because I too had a friend who committed suicide. I have asked myself all the questions that follow. Did I…Could I…Why didn’t I…What if I’d…? There are no answers to those questions only a lingering pain. I simply understand the deep ache of what they are now facing. Suicide doesn’t just affect the person that takes his or her own life. Suicide devastates families and friends. There is not a week that goes by since my friend’s death (and it’s been 3 years) that I don’t think of my friend, of those last moments in her life, and wish I’d been able to help.

I didn’t know Robin Williams. I don’t know all that he struggled with. From the outside, his life looked to be ideal. But no one’s life is ideal. Everyone struggles. Everyone faces difficulties. He recently had heart surgery. He struggled with addiction. He struggled with depression. He faced financial difficulties. Here is what I know: depression is an isolating illness. It makes you feel alone, and in that isolation lurks hopelessness.

This morning, I was reading out of the book of Job. Surely, if anyone had reason to feel depressed and hopeless, it was Job. All of his children had died. His wealth had been taken. His health was failing as he suffered boils on his body. He was in severe pain. Friends came to see him, trying to help and also accusing him of sin in his life, which they believed caused his suffering. Job 3 is Job’s lament. “Why didn’t I die as soon as I was born…” “Instead of being alive, I would now be quietly lying down. I would now be sleeping peacefully. I would be with the kings and the counselors of the world who built for themselves what are now ruins…. I would not exist…I have no peace! I have no quiet! I have no rest! And trouble keeps coming!”

Surely, Job was in a desperate situation. He was in a very dark place. He needed help. He needed hope. Let’s skip over what all his friends said to him in response. Because what really matters is what God says to him in chapter 38. “Then Yahweh answered Job out of the storm… “Where were you when I laid the foundation of the earth? Tell me if you have such insight.” Later, God says, “Will the person who finds fault with God correct him?” Finally, Job responds to God with, “I know that you can do everything and that your plans are unstoppable.”

Life is temporary. Eternity is forever. The suffering we feel here on earth does not last forever. It is a season. There are answers and solutions to any problem. God has the answers. He can work miracles in our lives if we will but allow Him.

For those who cry when others are laughing…if your life feels dark and hopeless…if you think about ending your life…reach out to a friend, a family member, a professional doctor, nurse, anyone. I know it’s scary. I know you feel as if no one will care. There is someone who wants to help. Please, reach out and get help. You do not have to live with tears or loneliness or darkness. Reach out. Get help. If you haven’t reached out to God, then do so. People make mistakes and fail each other, but God loves you. Always. Let me repeat that. God. Loves. You.

For those who have been left behind by someone they love who took their own life, it’s okay to walk through all those stages of grief: sadness, anger, etc… There are organizations that can help you in the aftermath. Get help. But also, reach out to God. He understands your pain, your suffering, and He wants to help you through this very difficult time.

For those who do not face depression (yet), please remember that no one knows what situation another faces, what resides in another’s heart or the pain another suffers. Looking at Robin Williams, it would be easy to assume that his success, his laughter, his life would cause happiness. It’s never that simple. Be mindful that others are hurting and reach out to help, listen for clues that someone needs help or is asking for help, and most importantly simply love each other.

For those who have gone on, who found this life too painful, too dark, you are not forgotten. You are loved. You are missed.