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Job 3:20 - Life and Misery; Is There An Answer?

Job 3:20 (CEV) Why does God let me live when 
life is miserable and so bitter?  

COMMENTARY PEARL

   In the early 1960s when a Christian 
suffered from a depression that resulted in Job's 
kind of thinking and candid admission, you never 
said so publicly. You swallowed your sorrow. The 
first book I read on this subject, covering 
emotional turmoil and mental illness among Christians, 
was considered heresy by most of my evangelical 
friends. 
   The pervasive opinion then was simple: 
Christians didn't have breakdowns. Furthermore, you 
certainly didn't stay depressed! You know what term 
was used to describe those who struggled with 
deep depression in the early and mid-sixties? 
"Nervous." "He's got a nervous problem." Or simply, 
"She's nervous." And if you ever, God help you, had 
to be hospitalized due to your "nervous" 
disorder, there just wasn't a Christian word for it. I 
repeat, you didn't tell a soul. Shame upon shame 
that you didn't trust the Lord through your 
struggle and find Him faithful to help you "get over" 
your depression. 
   Shame-based counsel never sounds right 
because it isn't right! And I didn't know enough to 
know that Job 3 was in the book back then. Had I 
known, I would have said, "Hey, what about Job?" 
   I want to write to you who are reading 
these lines who may be in the pit, struggling to 
find your way back. It's possible that things 
have gotten so dark that you need a competent 
Christian psychologist (or psychiatrist) to help you 
find your way. The most intelligent thing you can 
do is locate one and go. In fact, go as long as 
you need to go. Make sure that the counselor 
really does know the Lord Jesus and is truly 
competent, able to provide the direction you need so 
you can work your way through your maze of 
misery. And, I would add, "God bless you for every 
hour you spend finding your way out of the hole 
that you have been in. There is hope. Our 
faithful God will see you through." [Chuck Swindoll 
www.insight.org.] 

LINKS FOR FURTHER STUDY ON THIS PASSAGE

Job 3:20 - Life and Misery: Is There An 
Answer?  

http://www.abible.com/devotions/2002/20020822-2010.html 

YOUR COMMENTS

If anyone has a paraphrase, commentary or 
testimony on this passage of Scripture, either 
personal or otherwise, I would be interested in 
hearing from you.  Thanks in advance and let's keep 
uplifting Jesus that all might be drawn to Him. Fred 
Gibbs  

LINKS WORTH CHECKING OUT

Most Important Decision in Life: 
http://www.youtube.com/embed/WGnEuGwvXqU?rel=0 

A Man without Equal by Bill Bright: 
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NiVa7UoruIo 

Seeking God Made Real: 
http://vimeo.com/31489782 

Prayer Made Real: 
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tc8VdMV26VE 

Importance of Choice: 
http://creationhealth.com/CREATION-Health/Choice [click on video]  

Medical Seminar on Healthful Living by David 
DeRose, MD, MPH: 
https://www.smartlifestyletv.com/lifestart 

LINKS FOR BIBLE STUDIES 

Lifting Up Jesus Bible Studies: 
http://www.liftingupjesus.net/ 

Amazing Facts Bible Studies: 
http://www.amazingfacts.org/bible-study/bible-study-guides.aspx  

Hope Awakens Bible Study Guides: 
https://www.hopeawakens.study/lesson-header;id=2 

Glow Tract Video Bible Studies: 
http://www.bibleresearch.info/ 

LINKS FOR BIBLE PROPHECY SEMINARS

Unlocking Bible Prophecies by Cami Oetman of 
Adventist World Radio: 
https://bible.awr.org/the-signs/ 

Hope Awakens by John Bradshaw of IIW: 
https://itiswritten.tv/programs/hope-awakens 

The Last Day of Prophecy by Pastor Doug 
Batchelor: 
https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLmGvdtMCf1aJTiC59-lPtuUMEq_uEn0BK 

Prophecies Decoded by Pastor Ron Clouzet: 
https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PL1A435C5373550657