No One Knows the Troubles I’ve Seen.

There are days when it would be great just to stay in bed and not deal with life. The spiritual song born of the slave era captures the profound suffering of the enslaved people.

Perhaps, we have felt suffering that cripples our lives. It can take the wind out of our sales. Storms of issues with people, places, and events fill the ship’s log of troubles. Raise a fist to the ubiquitous ruler of the planets and the sea and ask a superfluous question – why me?

If we were to itemize Job’s troubles, we would see a nightmare of catastrophes, and raising a fist to God seems appropriate. Better to be angry with God than ignore Him. But Job’s troubles are not what this story is all about.

Think of our own struggles. Do they define us? Hopefully, we are more than our troubles. At this point, we could enter the scene and imagine we can see, hear, touch, and even taste and smell — if we can — what’s happening in the text. In short, here is an Ignatian meditation in the making. See, hear, smell, and touch. The sacred takes place in the imagination.

Now, enter Satan. Standing next to Satan, surely, we give a surprised and questioning look to God who permitted Satan to take away all that Job has, but he will still remain faithful to his God. Here is a test for modern times. We can lose our homes in a hurricane or lose our money in the financial market. Satan counts on us to give up on God when God doesn’t give us what we want. Satan wins

Can we say with conviction: The LORD gave and the LORD has taken away; blessed be the name of the LORD!”

Prayer:

My soul, be at rest in God alone, from whom comes my hope. God alone is my rock and my salvation, my fortress; I shall not fall. (Psalm 62:6-7)