From Tragedy to Job

Last week, an old family friend of ours experienced a severe motorcycle accident. A woman ran a red light, hit him on his motorcycle, and he consequently suffered two broken femurs, one amputated leg, multiple breaks below the remaining knee, one broken wrist, one broken thumb, the permanent loss of his vision, and multiple other scraps and bruises.

I have not seen this man in person since I was probably 13, but when I walked into his room, with no vision, he knew who I was. In the midst of agonizing pain, he tried to ask what was going on in my life and how our family was doing. He talked of how he had been praying for my sister and how thankful/proud he was of my brother for allowing God to move in his life. He bragged to his sister-in-law of my attendance in seminary, and all between moans of excruciating pain.

(Let me break in to say, I don’t consider myself an emotional person. Moody – yes, but emotional – no. I am the kid that LOVED to visit the hospital and nursing homes with my dad when I was little. However, I was so overcome with emotion at this man’s bedside that I passed out. Talk about embarrassing – I am there to encourage him and he ends up encouraging me as I stagger out the door!)

I spent quite a bit of time after my visit remembering what had made this man so special to me and my family. I remembered this man truly loved Jesus and people, he was always positive and encouraging, and he was a blessing and delight to encounter. Here is what I noticed last week at his bedside, while in terrible pain… He STILL loved Jesus and people, he was STILL positive and encouraging, and he was STILL a blessing and delight to be around! Interesting?!?!?

I have not been able to get this friend and his situation out of my mind since last Tuesday. In fact, I have been somewhat consumed. I am not really sure why other than I was so amazed with the genuineness of who he is IN CHRIST! If I were in that type of pain I do not think I would have been gracious to the doctor, but he was. If I were in that type of pain, I doubt I would have been asking about his family, but he ask about mine. If I were in that type of pain, I would probably be demanding and self-focused, but he remained humble and thankful.

For the first time in a long time, I was tempted to say WHY, God? Why does this man have to suffer? Why does someone who has loved You and served You faithfully have to hurt like this?

I think the reason this particular situation hit me so hard, was that he was on staff with my dad at a church where some really horrible things happened to me – this man, my dad, and a few other ministers were the “good guys.” The men who just put their heads down, loved Jesus, and served others. And it just didn’t seem fair that the minister who had hurt me wasn’t the one in the hospital bed missing a leg.

In response to my questioning, I believe this is what God keeps bringing to my mind:

As I have worked through counseling over the years, with respect to the hurts that occurred at that church, God has given me a very clear picture… On one side of a line is me as a child and the minister who hurt me, on the other side of the line is God holding an older version of me, safe and sound. God laid on my heart a long time ago, that because of sin that minister had access to my body, but He (God) always held a line that minister could not cross. God always held the best part of me, and Satan and in all his might could not cross that line and take what God had said he could not have!

The same is true of our family friend… GOD HAS DRAWN A LINE (I don’t know where and it may not be where I would choose, but He has drawn a line none the less). Satan and all his might cannot cross a line God draws. It may seem like Satan has an all-access pass, but he doesn’t! GOD DRAWS AND HOLDS THE LINE OF… ENOUGH, and that line Satan cannot and will not cross!

I know, I know – some of you (if I actually have any readers, other than my parents) are gagging right now. No doubt questions are coming circling the “WHY” word. Why does God allow pain? Why does God allow Sin? If God is all-loving, then why does He allow us to hurt? Comment away and I will do my best to address what I can. But for the time being, here is an example of where God drew a line Satan could not cross:

Job 1 ~

“One day the angels came to present themselves before the LORD, and Satan also came with them. The LORD said to Satan, “Where have you come from?”

Satan answered the LORD, “From roaming throughout the earth, going back and forth on it.” Then the LORD said to Satan, “Have you considered my servant Job? There is no one on earth like him; he is blameless and upright, a man who fears God and shuns evil.”

“Does Job fear God for nothing?” Satan replied. “Have you not put a hedge around him and his household and everything he has? You have blessed the work of his hands, so that his flocks and herds are spread throughout the land. ¹¹ But now stretch out your hand and strike everything he has, and he will surely curse you to your face.”

The LORD said to Satan, “Very well, then, everything he has is in your power, but on the man himself do not lay a finger.”

Where was the line? Job’s life was the line!

We may not have the answers we want, and the line may not be where we would choose, but I find comfort in knowing God does have ultimate control. I don’t know what the upcoming months have in store for our dear friend, but this one thing I know… God has drawn a line Satan CANNOT cross! God will be faithful, and I trust God will move beyond our friends furthest expectation and need. But what I am claiming is the fact that God will hold the line of “enough” for His beloved.

Today’s Focus:

1. Remember God makes and holds the line of ENOUGH.

"And God is faithful, He will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear. But when you are tempted He will provide a way out so that you can stand up under it." 1 Cor. 10:13

2. Claim the following promise for our friend.

“Never have I seen the righteous forsaken, or their seed begging for bread.” Ps. 37:25

3. Pray for our friend to see and know God even more during this difficult time.

“Before my ears had heard of You, but now my eyes have seen You.” Job 1:6-12