When troubles come

"When troubles come, they come not as single spies but in battalions." (Claudius, Hamlet Act IV, Scene V)

 I wonder if  one of the functions of the story of Job is to enable us to place our own battalions in perspective. I think few would have it as badly as Job did.

A friend remarked to me in respect of some of my recent battalions with words to the effect of 'we wonder what God is doing in all this'.

Oddly, that is not how I wonder.

I'm nothing like Job, but I am well schooled in the corruption and decay that we are part of in this fallen and marred creation, established for us to enjoy God within, but brought to its futility by Adam and all his offspring.

I made the mistake many decades ago of not being able to deal with egregious trials with similar perspective. That mistake did bring some benefits, but at the same time derailed my Christian work for some following decades. Some gain, but much loss.

Now, I don't think such thoughts. With self and family experiencing debilitating health events, all I can think is, life is like this; it can be worse, much worse; and it can be better. But our call is not to this world but is the upward call of God in Christ (Phil 3:14) as he works all things together (as participating agent, not puppet-master) for our (final) good. In this he draws us to himself as we look toward the world made new and un-alloyed fellowship with our Saviour world without end.