When All Is Not Well: Beating Your Fear of Bad News and Hard Times

I sat in the exam room, staring at the wall, sometimes watching the door, waiting for someone to return and tell me the results of my cat’s ultrasound. I braced for her to become the third pet out of five to receive a cancer diagnosis.

Lord, that would be too much, I thought. Too much.

Then, for some reason (as in, God), the biblical account of Job came to mind. Job had ten children he loved dearly, as evidenced by his conscientious efforts and sacrifices to ensure they were right with God.

But he lost them. ALL of them. At once. In the blink of an eye.

The news of their tragic death from a house collapsing on them came to Job on the heels of other bad news—losing his great wealth, property, and servants through violent attacks. But I’d imagine the news of his children made him forget everything else.

The pain must’ve nearly killed him.

It must have been too much.

And, yet, God brought that circumstance upon Job. In the first chapter of Job, we’re allowed a behind-the-scenes look at a conversation between God and Satan. God gives Satan permission to wreak havoc with Job’s life. Yes, permission to kill every last one of Job’s children in one fell blow.

When Job hears of his children’s death, we see his pain in the way he tears his robe as a sign of great sorrow (Job 1:20). But his immediate response after tearing his robe and shaving his head leaves me astounded.

He “fell on the ground and worshipped” (Job 1:20). Is this some automatic ritual, a religious rite he’s been trained to perform or that he believes will coerce God into turning back the clock and restoring his children?

No, not for Job. This worship comes from his rock-solid understanding of the truth:

And he said, “Naked I came from my mother’s womb, and naked shall I return. The Lord gave, and the Lord has taken away; blessed be the name of the Lord.” – Job 1:21

Job understands, even in the midst of tremendous grief, what I often forget. The loss and pain I fear is only so frightening because of how amazingly good the object (pets, people, things) is that I’m afraid to lose.

Losing someone I love only hurts so much because that loved one was so very good to have in my life.

How easy it is for me to fall into the trap of somehow feeling like I am owed more time with that loved one. That I should have it. I forget that I never earned that bright spot in my life in the first place. I never deserved anything so very good.

I forget I had absolutely no control over gaining that loved one in the first place. I have no control over how long I will get to enjoy being with my loved one or having whatever I’m afraid to lose.

God brought that precious thing into my life. He gave me an amazing gift I didn’t deserve and that He didn’t have to give me. If not for Him, I would never have known anything so good.

All the good I’m afraid to lose in this life is a gift from God. Job knew this. He knew it so well that immediately after the most devastating loss I can imagine, he declared, “blessed be the name of the Lord” (Job 1:21)!

Job knew the loss of his children only hurt so much because God’s gift of the time Job had with his kids had been so amazing, so precious. He didn’t look the proverbial gift horse in the mouth, he blessed the Giver for the gift.

And he fell on his knees to worship that Giver, his God. Why? Because Job knew that, contrary to our culture’s popular belief, God frequently gives us more tough circumstances than we can handle. But God can bring us through anything. And He promises to do just that.

In the old hymn, “All Will Be Well,” Mary Peters’ lyrics beautifully convey the truth we find in Scripture.

Faith can sing through days of sorrow, All, all is well.
On our Father’s love relying, Jesus ev’ry need supplying,
Or in living or in dying—All must be well.

Real faith can sing even in the worst of times, because we trust our Father loves us and will supply our every need.

But did you catch that last line? Even if our loved ones live or die—even if we live or die—all must be well.

Why “must” all be well? How can we know that to be true, no matter what?

The same way Job knew there was hope in the midst of his overwhelming trials:

For I know that my Redeemer lives,

    and at the last he will stand upon the earth.

And after my skin has been thus destroyed,

    yet in my flesh I shall see God

– Job 19:25-26

This is probably my favorite passage in all of Scripture, because this is all that matters. This is the truth that will get us through anything, that will banish every fear and wipe away every tear.

Our Redeemer lives! We can know this without a shadow of a doubt. And we can keep our eyes fixed on that certain day in the future when we who are the chosen of Christ will see God.

Our God will carry us through whatever sorrow and pain He has ordained to use to draw us closer to Him. Our Redeemer will rescue us from the worst we fear and will bring us with Him to victory in the end.

Just as God gave even more to Job after he suffered (Job 42), our Giver will keep giving and giving to us.

And after you have suffered a little while, the God of all grace, who has called you to his eternal glory in Christ, will himself restore, confirm, strengthen, and establish you. – 1 Peter 5:10

Our God gives. Our Redeemer lives. All must be well.

Do you fear something bad happening in your life? How has God enabled your faith to “sing through days of sorrow”? Please share!

Photos by Johannes Plenio, Zoltan Tasi, Ani Kolleshi, and Chris Lejarazu on Unsplash. Original graphics designed by Jerusha Agen.