By Pastor William Y. K. Brown Ph.D
(Resident Pastor)
Seventh-day Adventist Church
Osu-Bethel.
Tel: 0244165628/0243310773.
wykbrown@gmail.com
WEDNESDAY
THEME: EVIDENCE: JOB REVEALS, PART II
SCRIPTURE: Job 42:10,12
[10]And the Lord restored Job’s losses when he prayed for his friends. Indeed the Lord gave Job twice as much as he had before. [12]Now the Lord blessed the latter days of Job more than his beginning; . . .”
REFLECTIONS
Not many people could endure what Job experienced. Losing everything he possessed in life, deserted by family and close associates, and enduring pain, what was he to live for? His wife’s comments made his situation precarious. Job 2:9 records, “Then his wife said to him, “Do you still hold fast to your integrity? Curse God and die!” In effect, she is saying you are not worth living – commit suicide and die. The woman rather had a mental health defect. Job, with his firm trust in God, which gave him control of his mental health, responded affirmatively, – “But he said to her, “You speak as one of the foolish women speaks. Shall we indeed accept good from God, and shall we not accept adversity?” In all this Job did not sin with his lips.” – Job 2:10. Often, comments made by those close to us exacerbate our pain and suffering and may influence our thinking negatively.
For some people, Job’s experience should elicit suicide. But derailed mental health will act this way – committing suicide. Suicide is never a solution. To be human is to be stable and deal with problems as they come. Life is problem-solving. Do not allow any problem to overwhelm you to the point of losing your balance. Maintain good mental health, which God guarantees to all who trust Him. The psalmist said in Psalms 56:3, “Whenever I am afraid, I will trust in You.” – this is the right attitude of any honest Christian. The word of God fortifies our mental capacity to handle awkward situations. Evidence of mental health can be found in how we address issues as they occur. Leaders need strong, balanced, and Spirit-led mental health.
Many people lack the tenacity to endure and seek supposedly easier but wrong ways to deal with their desperation. The International Association for Suicide Prevention states that about 703,000 people die by suicide worldwide each year. One in every 100 deaths in 2019 was by suicide. More men commit suicide than women. The majority of all deaths by suicide occur before the age of 50 years old. Globally, suicide is the fourth leading cause of death in 15-29-year-olds. A person suffering from depression is 20 times more likely to die by suicide. The risk factors associated with suicide are many but include loss, a sense of isolation, abuse, experiences of violence, conflict, or disaster, and other vulnerabilities.
When you wait on God, answers will surely come. The end will be more glorious than the beginning. The situation may not change when you expect it, but He will act when the God you trust deems it appropriate, timely, and most beneficial. Note also that He does not desert you even during your trials and afflictions – He watches and works on your behalf. Please keep Isaiah 43:2 in mind: “When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; And through the rivers, they shall not overflow you. When you walk through the fire, you shall not be burned, Nor shall the flame scorch you.” In the case of Job, when he held on to God and did not vacillate or fret, God restored him double what he had before, and lived for another 140 years (Job 42:10-17). Beloved, life is full of challenges. But God is always ready to help you scale over the mountains and difficulties. Maintain good mental health and trust in God.
MY SONG OF COMMITMENT
“Whispering Hope” by Jim Reeves
LET US PRAY
– Praise and thank God for His presence in every situation; thank God for giving you the ability to endure your challenges; pray to trust Him in all situations;
– Pray for people, especially youth with suicide tendencies; pray for vulnerable people – refugees, displaced people, those discriminated against, street children, people experiencing homelessness;
– Pray for families enduring hardships to maintain their integrity to trust God; pray for the sick, especially the chronically ill;
– Pray for promoting good mental health in the country, Churches, institutions, and homes; pray for Christians to be prayerful and intercede for others.
