Christmas 2020: A Perspective from Job

Consider these words that Job might say to us today.

My name is one of the most referenced in all of history, which is rather odd since you rarely, if ever, name your children after me. Instead, my name is more of a condition, synonymous with pain and loss.  

When life becomes especially challenging, you seem to find comfort by invoking my presence as a fellow struggler of old. “I feel like Job,” you groan. The union of kindred spirits brings consolation, even if the two souls are separated by millennia.

I may be the last character from whom you would expect to hear during the Christmas season. I don’t exactly remind you of tinsel and mistletoe. But Christmas 2020 feels less like holidays and more like holy-daze, a sacred time in which even the most faithful are confused about God’s presence in such a struggling world. This may very well be the year that finding Job in Christmas makes sense.

Before my story became one of pain and despair, it was filled with an abundance of blessings, including a large, close-knit family, a vast wealth of livestock, and numerous workers to manage one of the greatest businesses in the land.

It would have been easy to rely on the security that our riches provided, but I worked intentionally to guide my family through the proverbial camel’s eye of the needle. As you know, even God himself took notice of my devotion: “…There is no one on earth like him; he is blameless and upright, a man who fears God and shuns evil” (Job 1:8). My deep faith is what positioned me at the center of the spiritual challenge between God and Satan.

Theological inferences notwithstanding, this otherworldly contest between good and evil had devastating effects on my earthly life. I lost my workers and my animals to violent raids of robbers. Others died when fire swept through parts of my land. Eventually, I had no way to make a living. Everything I had built was gone. Just when I thought things could not get any worse, I received the devastating news that my children had been killed in a wind storm. My grief was palpable. I lost everything. Eventually, I would lose my health. My wife would challenge my spirituality, and my “friends” would question my integrity. But through it all, I kept the one thing that could not be taken away…I kept my faith.

As I said when the unimaginable happened: “…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 1:21).

“I feel like Job” is commonly a lament that you are suffering like I did. In truth, your pandemic has certainly created misery that rivals mine. The widespread death, the lonely struggles in ICU rooms, the fears of susceptibility, the mystery of a novel virus, and the loss of jobs are just some of your afflictions.

Some of you would be in grave danger if you were to face symptoms from the virus. Illness, age, or some other condition has diminished your ability to fight it. I see myself in you, hearing all the COVID-19 arguments, but being reluctant to participate in the debate because it’s too personal. Your friends argue what’s right or wrong: mask or no mask, indoors or outdoors, 6 ft. or 12 ft. or 0 ft., in-person or virtual, vaccine or no vaccine. It’s hard to enter the fray when you feel like it’s your life in the middle. I had friends with strong opinions too, as I sat in the middle of a cosmic battle between right and wrong. Yes, some of you really do “feel like Job.”

But here is my challenge to you: keep the faith through your pain. Centuries after my story was first told, I appeared in your New Testament among the writings of James. He wrote: “As you know, we count as blessed those who have persevered. You have heard of Job’s perseverance and have seen what the Lord finally brought about. The Lord is full of compassion and mercy” (James 5:11). The greatest tribute you could give me is not to compare our afflictions, but rather to equate our endurance.  

I encourage you to find ways to express persistent faith in the pandemic. For instance, I have heard of one of your families who has turned social distancing into a faith-filled lesson for their children. The parents (we’ll say their names are Katherine and Eric) have three small children. Both Katherine and Eric’s fathers have conditions unsafe around COVID-19. They could spend these months grumbling about how their children are missing pivotal time with extended family. Instead, Katherine and Eric seize the teachable moment by explaining to their children that social distancing around their grandfathers is a way to say “I love you.” The principle that love conquers coronavirus is a truth that will far outlast the pandemic.

I long for the day when comparing oneself to me is not about misery, but rather it is about keeping the faith through the misery. Then my legacy would no longer be what I suffered, but rather how I persevered through it.   

You face a formidable test during this Christmas season. Decades-old traditions may be altered. Family gatherings may be smaller. At best, Christmas 2020 will look different.

My hope for you is that during these days of Job-like suffering, you will take opportunity to find Job-like, persevering faith.

Be still in the midst of the madness.

Avoid the distractions of divisiveness.

Look carefully in the loneliness.

That is where the Child still comes to meet you.

Merry Christmas,

Job

__________

Scripture quotations are from the New International Version.

16 thoughts on “Christmas 2020: A Perspective from Job”

  2. Allen,
    I have always enjoyed your stories that are done in first person, and this one was no exception. Thank you for reminding me that  the Child still comes to meet me no matter how crazy things get. Who knew Job would deliver such a poignant message during Advent. Merry Christmas to you and Laurie.
    Rickie

    __________

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  3. This couldn’t come at a more appropriate time! I have a former pastor friend whose family has now had 2 deaths ( a precious 28 yr old daughter and a dear friend and father in law of a son) and had mourned a mother in law several months ago! I will be sharing this as I ponder these words in my own heart. Thank you for your example of endurance as well!

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  6. As always, right on target. I’ve been feeling like everything has been taken from me. Even my family this year. The story is not over yet and Jesus wins. And Jesus loves me. Thank you Allen.

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  7. Wonderful analogy Allen! May God bless you and your extended family this Christmas!

    Merry Christmas from our new location at our old homeplace in Jackson County!

    Steve & Kay

    From: On Second Thought Sent: Sunday, December 20, 2020 1:01 PM To: smithwrp@frontier.com Subject: [New post] Christmas 2020: Keep the Faith A Perspective from Job

    Allen Reasons, Ph.D. posted: ” Consider these words that Job might say to us today. My name is one of the most referenced in all of history, which is rather odd since you rarely, if ever, name your children after me. Instead, my name is more of a condition, synonymous with pain and”

    Respond to this post by replying above this line

    New post on On Second Thought

    Christmas 2020: Keep the Faith A Perspective from Job

    by Allen Reasons, Ph.D.

    Consider these words that Job might say to us today.

    My name is one of the most referenced in all of history, which is rather odd since you rarely, if ever, name your children after me. Instead, my name is more of a condition, synonymous with pain and loss.

    When life becomes especially challenging, you seem to find comfort by invoking my presence as a fellow struggler of old. “I feel like Job,” you groan. The union of kindred spirits brings consolation, even if the two souls are separated by millennia.

    I may be the last character from whom you would expect to hear during the Christmas season. I don’t exactly remind you of tinsel and mistletoe. But Christmas 2020 feels less like holidays and more like holy-daze, a sacred time in which even the most faithful are confused about God’s presence in such a struggling world. This may very well be the year that finding Job in Christmas makes sense.

    Before my story became one of pain and despair, it was filled with an abundance of blessings, including a large, close-knit family, a vast wealth of livestock, and numerous workers to manage one of the greatest businesses in the land.

    It would have been easy to rely on the security that our riches provided, but I worked intentionally to guide my family through the proverbial camel’s eye of the needle. As you know, even God himself took notice of my devotion: “…There is no one on earth like him; he is blameless and upright, a man who fears God and shuns evil” (Job 1:8). My deep faith is what positioned me at the center of the spiritual challenge between God and Satan.

    Theological inferences notwithstanding, this otherworldly contest between good and evil had devastating effects on my earthly life. I lost my workers and my animals to violent raids of robbers. Others died when fire swept through parts of my land. Eventually, I had no way to make a living. Everything I had built was gone. Just when I thought things could not get any worse, I received the devastating news that my children had been killed in a wind storm. My grief was palpable. I lost everything. Eventually, I would lose my health. My wife would challenge my spirituality, and my “friends” would question my integrity. But through it all, I kept the one thing that could not be taken away…I kept my faith.

    As I said when the unimaginable happened: “…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 1:21).

    “I feel like Job” is commonly a lament that you are suffering like I did. In truth, your pandemic has certainly created misery that rivals mine. The widespread death, the lonely struggles in ICU rooms, the fears of susceptibility, the mystery of a novel virus, and the loss of jobs are just some of your afflictions.

    Some of you would be in grave danger if you were to face symptoms from the virus. Illness, age, or some other condition has diminished your ability to fight it. I see myself in you, hearing all the COVID-19 arguments, but being reluctant to participate in the debate because it’s too personal. Your friends argue what’s right or wrong: mask or no mask, indoors or outdoors, 6 ft. or 12 ft. or 0 ft., in-person or virtual, vaccine or no vaccine. It’s hard to enter the fray when you feel like it’s your life in the middle. I had friends with strong opinions too, as I sat in the middle of a cosmic battle between right and wrong. Yes, some of you really do “feel like Job.”

    But here is my challenge to you: keep the faith through your pain. Centuries after my story was first told, I appeared

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  8. Allen,

    As always, right on point and so encouraging, even and especially in these dark times. Thanks for sharing your wisdom and insight, Allen! You are a treasure and we are so sorry we can’t see more of you! Keep ’em coming…. we need to hear your words!

    Love you dearly, Lyn & Bert

    On Sun, Dec 20, 2020 at 12:01 PM On Second Thought wrote:

    > Allen Reasons, Ph.D. posted: ” Consider these words that Job might say to > us today. My name is one of the most referenced in all of history, which is > rather odd since you rarely, if ever, name your children after me. Instead, > my name is more of a condition, synonymous with pain and” >

    Like

    Reply

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