“He… mourns only for himself.” Job 14:22

Believe it or not, Job went right back to the description of his despair:

“But as a mountain erodes and crumbles and as a rock is moved from its place, as water wears away stones and torrents wash away the soil, so You destroy man’s hope. You over power him once for all, and he is gone; You change his countenance and send him away. If his sons are honored, he does not know it; if they are brought low, he does not see it. He feels but the pain of his own body and mourns only for himself.” (vv. 18 – 22)

Reverting back to his faulty view of God’s stance toward him, Job transparently expressed how those in real desperation only feel the pain of their own experience – and can only mourn for themselves once they have lost hope. But didn’t Job just declare his hope for God’s renewal? Yes, and that is the insanity of emotional trauma – one may be at life’s lowest point one moment, and become empowered enough to rally his/her wits for joining the living once again.

Life has a way to erode one’s hopes… slowly dripping upon the soil of youthful dreams, where it works to loosen that which is supporting those dreams. Then, one sudden calamity acts like a torrent which sends those dreams cascading down into an abyss of hopelessness. The only antidote for that despair is the power which comes from trusting God.

Unfortunately, many get angry with God, instead of drawing nearer to Him. That’s the reason so many depressed people act out in desperation through suicide – the feel completely alone in their grief, as THEY MOURN ONLY FOR THEMSELVES. Reader, the only real hope any of us could ever possess is through trusting God with the details and outcome of our lives. He is the Glory and The Lifter of our heads (Psalm 3:3); our ever-present help in times of trouble (Psalm 46:1); and The One Who stands ready to save (1 Peter 1:5).

The apostle Peter described it this way:

“And after you have suffered a little while, the God of all grace, Who has called you to His eternal glory in Christ, will Himself restore, confirm, strengthen, and establish you.”   (1 Peter 5:10)

Have a blessed day…