“…I am full of shame…” Job 10:15c

Job was full of shame for all the wrong reasons. He accused God of concealing a dark side to divinity, continuing his faulty perspective of God being a spiritual ogre; ready to punish the unsuspecting sinner. (vv. 13 – 14).

Yet, Job maintained his innocence in the matter before God, creating quite a bit of dissonance in his thinking. Rational thought seemed to abandon him because nothing in his life made sense. Job’s own words mirrored how severe his lapse of reason had deteriorated:

“If I hold my head high, You stalk me like a lion and again display Your awesome power against me. You bring new witnesses against me and increase Your anger toward me; Your forces come against me wave upon wave.” (vv. 16 – 17)

What does Job mean with such talk? He actually thought God had it out for him – stalking him as His whipping boy. Job had seen so much tragedy. He described the horror of the sequence of terrors he experienced as heavenly forces that came “wave upon wave” (v.17). He could see no end to his agony. The truth was the same then as it is today: bad things happen to good people. We cannot see through the veil into the spiritual dimension to discover any spiritual test which God may be posing to satan… and which could include any of those who walk in His way.

Job was open to the possibility of having unknowingly sinned, for then he could accept the woe he was experiencing as justified (v.15a). Job concluded, however, that he could not lift his head - even if he were innocent - because of his great shame (v.15b). Again, a poor line of thinking leading to a faulty conclusion… all because he was emotionally flooded. He described his feelings as being “drowned in my affliction.” (v.15c) Job had been so severely overcome that he was ashamed of the humiliation he experienced through affliction.

Street people often speak of the shame of their circumstances. If you have never been in a situation to have to literally beg for your next meal, you wouldn’t understand. Imagine yourself with no home for shelter, protection and rest; no income for clothing, meals or even entertainment; and no moral or financial support. What would be your first step out of the quagmire of hopelessness? Would your view of God be similar to Job’s? And if you were raised to be a responsible citizen, making your own way in this world, how great would your shame be?

It’s not easy to hold one’s head up when the doors of opportunity are closed again and again. Shame can creep in at the most unsuspecting times. One’s thinking becomes distorted – projecting one’s own feelings through the assumed presumptions of others. How does this passage speak to us today? Be sensitive to those around you… and aware of those who are emotionally flooded. Faith-walkers need to come beside those in despair and hopelessness and infuse hope through a good deed, financial support, a positive word or an authentic and appropriate touch of care.

If you are emotionally flooded, understand this: you may not be your own best friend; your thinking can become distorted; and you may say things that you haven’t clearly thought through. My advise? Pray and trust God to work things out for your good.

You’re the only Jesus a desperate soul may ever see.

Have a blessed day…