by Kelli Garms | Jan 19, 2024 | Bible Study
I would venture to say that for most of us, the problem isn’t finding time to read our Bibles, but learning how to meditate throughout the day on what we read. It is easy to sit down and read the assigned portion of Scripture for the day, check it off of the list, and not think about it again until we open up our Bibles the next day. And this makes us feel like we aren’t really getting anything out of our time in the Word.
Throughout the years, I have come across several Bible study techniques that don’t take up a lot of extra time but can keep me focused on my Scripture reading throughout the rest of the day. Some of these may not be new to you, but it never hurts to be reminded, right? Let’s unpack four of these methods.
Bible Study Technique 1: Paraphrase the Passage
This method has been practiced for centuries, and has only fallen out of practice in modern day. But it is one of my favorite ways to begin the study of a passage. I even included a paraphrase section in my Bible study workbook. To paraphrase is to put someone else’s words into your own. So the idea here is simple: read the passage and rewrite in your own words, incorporating your own style.
In an effort to add female voices to the canon of literature, researchers and historians have had to resort to publishing private writing of women throughout the years. What they have found is that many women used this technique to learn Scripture, make application, and practice their writing. So this is not a new practice. In fact, as a literature teacher, this was an activity I assigned to my college students.
I get a few objections to this practice, specifically a concern for “adding to” or “taking away” from Scripture, as the Bible strictly commands us not to do (Deuteronomy 4:2, Revelation 22:18-19). However, I would argue that this is simply a Bible study tool and is not intended to be read by others or, even less, published for the public at large. And this argument coming from my students probably had more to do with taking the time and energy to complete the assignment.
The goal is to see if you understand what you’re reading. If you can rewrite the passage in your own words, not only will it let you know if you get it, but also it will clarify things that you may not have even noticed in a superficial reading. It can be incredibly powerful and continually come to mind as you go about your day.
Also keep in mind that your paraphrase may be wrong, and that’s ok. As you continue digging into the passage, you may discover that what you thought it was saying is not at all what it meant. This should be encouraging as it shows you are growing in discernment!
Bible Study Technique 2: Map the Passage
Another technique I often use is mapping. This is especially helpful if you are a visual learner. There are many ideas behind mapping, but essentially it is creating a visual of the passage. I especially like to map sections of Scripture that are long and confusing, often containing multiple lists before coming to the end of the sentence (Paul loved to write this way!)
This might be done by drawing bubbles on a page with arrows to other bubbles that contain supporting or following ideas. It can also be an outline-style rewrite of the passage you type up on your computer. Or it could be a beautifully and artfully done word study. There are no rules.
Much like the paraphrase, the idea is to dig into the passage a little more and clarify what it means. It can help you see patterns the author included, grammatical construction (if you’re a language nerd like me), or even highlight explanations you didn’t recognize at first. And this visual should come to mind, bringing the meaning of the passage you studied to the forefront as you head to work, change diapers, prepare dinner, etc.
Bible Study Technique 3: Do Word Studies
One of my favorite Bible study techniques is doing word studies. A word study is simply researching a specific word you come across. It may include etymology of the word, pronunciation, and part of speech. Often you will find that there are many possible meanings of the word, just as we see in our English dictionaries.
When I find a repeated word or there is a word used that causes confusion, I dig into it. I want to know if something is lost in translation, if the word can have multiple meanings, and where the word shows up in other places in Scripture. This always helps me get a more complete sense of the word.
For example, in my study of the book of Ecclesiastes, I dug into the word translated “vanity” as it recurs so frequently throughout the the book. In Genesis 6:6, I looked up the word that is translated “regretted” because it didn’t click with what I know to be true about God. I frequently do word studies and share them with the Bible Study Academy.
My favorite resource for word studies is blueletterbible.com. It allows me to look up each word individually, providing all of the definition options, showing how many times each different translation is used, and even listing every verse in Scripture where that word appears. But there are other Bible dictionaries you may find helpful, especially if you would rather research offline.
Again, this method is intended to bring that word to mind as you go about your day. If you put in the effort to study out the word, your brain will bring it back to your thoughts over and over again. And then you’ll start to notice reinforcing ideas in all kinds of places!
Bible Study Technique 4: Memorize Scripture
You may wonder how memorization can be considered a Bible study technique, so let me explain. When you first begin memorizing a passage, you are simply repeating the words, trying to get them stuck in your brain in the right order. But as you repeat the verse(s), you start to think about the words you are reciting. And little by little, you’ll find that the verse takes on its meaning rather than just being a series of words you’re repeating.
I have found that I am encouraged by a passage that comes to mind just when I need it even though it has been a long time since I memorized it. This is truly meditating on God’s Word! And it is amazing when you can relate a passage you know to something you never expected to be relevant.
My favorite technique for memorizing Scripture is the FLOW (First Letter Of the Word) method. I explain it and the reason Scripture memorization is important in this blog post. Using this method allows me to come back to the passage repeatedly throughout the day and practice it.
If you are struggling to meditate on God’s Word once you have checked off your list and closed your Bible, I encourage you to try one of these techniques. This, of course, is not an exhaustive list; there are so many study methods we could discuss, but it is a great place to start if you just need a little direction.
If you have a favorite technique, please tell me in the comments so we can learn from each other! And if you try one of these techniques and love your results, please let me know.
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by Kelli Garms | Jan 12, 2024 | Bible Study
We live in an incredible time when not only do we have the freedom to study God’s Word, but also there are so many ways to do it! We can read it, watch it, listen to it, sit under preaching, read books about the Bible—so many ways to study.
On top of that, we can choose from so many different versions of the Bible. Whether you like an old English style of writing, one that sticks closely to the original language, or one that includes slang, there is a Bible version to appeal to your taste. So how do we know which one to choose?
The Bible Is Inspired
An important place to start is to acknowledge that the words originally penned by earthly authors were God’s words. Scripture says the words were “God-breathed” (2 Timothy 3:16-17). He used the writers’ personalities, culture, and writing style, but every word is His.
However, just as we find errors in manuscripts that were copied from the originals (or copies of copies), translating the words also leaves room for error. There is no perfect translation of the Bible. Where translations disagree, there is usually a plausible explanation for the choices made. So, while there are definitely bad Bible versions floating around, in general, there is no reason to get defensive or protective of your chosen version.
Bible Versions: Translation
To understand what the purpose of each version is, we need to define some terms. Let’s start with translation. A translation goes from one language to another. In other words, it will either start with the original Greek and Hebrew of the Bible, or it will originate in the Septuagint, which is the Greek translation of the Hebrew Old Testament. Technically, you can call it a translation if it begins with a Bible in any other language, not necessarily the original languages. But for the most part, when a Bible version calls itself a translation, it means the translators went back to the Greek and Hebrew as their starting point.
If you’ve ever worked with another language, whether it was taking a Spanish class in High School, going on a missions trip, or spending time on DuoLingo or Rosetta Stone, you know there are words in one language that don’t translate into another. For example, in Spanish, I can think of four different words that would simply be translated “hair” in English (and one could accidentally be translated “horse”). So translators have to choose the best option in the target language for the word in the original language. This means that EVERY translation includes some interpretation and a mistake could be made.
Translation Spectrum
Bible versions that are translations range from being a “word-for-word” translation to a “thought-for-thought” translation. The word-for-word translations try to stay as close to the original language as possible. This means the sentences may be a little clunky in English because that isn’t the way we speak. It also means that illustrations, metaphors, and allegories might be lost on us because they may refer to things we don’t see in this part of the world or experience in our culture. But, again, we live in an amazing time with so many resources at our fingertips, and it isn’t too difficult to get explanations for things we don’t understand (though there may be more than one possible explanation).
A thought-for-thought translation takes a little more liberty with the interpretation. Rather than sticking so closely to each word, the translators are more concerned with getting the idea of a passage across. The translator’s goal is to make it easier for us to understand what God is conveying during our reading of the passage. Because a thought-for-thought translation presents the idea, there is room for error, though the translators do stay as true to the original as they can while still accomplishing their goal.
Bible Versions: Paraphrase
The next term we need to define is paraphrase. A paraphrase, by definition, is putting someone else’s words into your own. So a Bible version that calls itself a paraphrase, doesn’t typically go back to the original languages as its starting point, but instead uses a translation as its starting point. So it is another step removed from the original. (By the way, this is a great personal Bible study method!)
If we consider that there is a certain amount of interpretation in every translation, then a paraphrase is putting someone else’s interpretation into “easier” language or into language that resonates with its readers. A paraphrase then has the most opportunity for error, especially if it begins with a translation that has already committed an error in translation. But a paraphrase can be helpful for those especially difficult passages or ones with a lot of unfamiliar imagery.
How To Choose a Bible Version
So how do we know which Bible version to choose? My advice would be to choose at least one version from each category for your deep-dive studies. Reading multiple translations and paraphrases of the same passage can give you a more complete idea of what the passage means, and it can demonstrate the difficulties of translating that particular passage.
For an everyday reading Bible, say if you are reading through the Bible in a year, a translation closer to the thought-for-thought end of the spectrum might be helpful. You might “get more” from your reading but not miss important elements that a paraphrase might leave out.
If you want to do more than a superficial reading, or if you want to know which Bible to carry to church with you (since the preacher should be digging a little deeper than a superficial reading), my personal preference is a Bible version closer to the word-for-word end of the spectrum. I especially prefer a good study Bible that can help me clear up any questions that arise from the translation challenges.
If you have a Bible and you don’t know where it lands on the spectrum, open the front cover. Most Bibles have an explanation of the process for that Bible version at the beginning of the book. Read through it and decide if you approve of the process used or if you would rather seek out a Bible closer to your preferences. You can also do this research online by searching for the Bible version you have.
The unfortunate reality is there are some very poor Bible versions available to us, so it behooves us to do a little research to make sure we aren’t led astray by their faulty interpretations.
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by Kelli Garms | Jan 5, 2024 | Bible Study
As we begin a new year, it is common for many of us to set a goal of reading through the Bible this year. Some of us set this Bible reading goal because we want to get a full picture of what is contained in Scripture. Others of us set it so we can finally say we have read through the Bible. And still others set the goal because of FOMO (fear of missing out) since everyone else is announcing their intention to read through the Bible this year.
There are many benefits to reading through the Bible from cover to cover. My favorite way to read through the Bible is following a chronological plan, though this means I do not get to the New Testament until very late in the year. It gives us an overall idea of the history of the Israelites and what that means to us today. We get a deeper understanding of why Jesus came and how He atones for us. And we start to grasp the connection between the Old and New Testaments.
Unfortunately, statistics tell us that only 5% of those who set a goal at the beginning of the year will complete it. That includes those who decide to read the Bible through. This is because there are also hard things about reading through the Bible in a year.
The Challenge of Reading the Whole Bible
There are some difficult books in the Bible, books that describe laws, punishments, and visions that we don’t understand. In a post I wrote to help you make it through the book of Leviticus, I describe it as the book “where Bible reading plans go to die.”
When we are simply reading the Bible at a surface level, it can be very difficult to make it through those particularly hard sections of Scripture. And that is when we quit. We have the best of intentions, but when it doesn’t make sense, it’s hard to follow through on the goal. Maybe you’ve set this goal yourself and have quit more times than you would like to admit.
The truth is that a Bible reading plan for a year deadline is actually reading it too fast for most of it to sink in. When you are reading it that quickly, it is difficult to marvel at the gift the Word of God is to us. While it is easy to get bogged down in details we don’t understand, it is also easy to completely miss amazing revelations of God’s love and design for us.
An Alternative Approach to Bible Reading
So if you’re yearning to strengthen your connection with God’s Word, there’s an alternative approach worth considering. I have read through the Bible multiple times, sometimes in a year, sometimes in two years, and sometimes in 90 days. And I loved completing those goals, but it wasn’t until I started focusing on one book at a time that I began to feel like I was truly learning God’s Word in a way that allowed me to apply it to my daily walk.
Choose one book of the Bible. It doesn’t matter if it is in the Old Testament or the New Testament, though I would advise that you don’t avoid those hard books forever. You can begin with Genesis, Matthew, the book your pastor is preaching through, a long book, a short book–there is no wrong place to start.
Read and reread that one book until you feel like you know it. Depending on the book, this could be a month-long commitment or a quarter-long commitment or longer. As you read, you’ll start to notice patterns, repetitions, and word choices. You’ll notice imagery and cultural indicators and you might even make a connection to something you’ve read elsewhere in the Bible.
Read the book in different versions and notice the choices different translators made. Choose a word-for-word translation, a thought-for-thought translation, and a paraphrase to compare (learn more about Bible versions here). Make sure you have a notebook handy, but not a pretty one that you’re too afraid to write in!
Discover the Depth of Scripture
Once you have learned the book, dig in. Do word studies for repeated words or words that confuse you. Check the cross-references for passages that intrigue you or grab your attention. Consult commentaries for particularly confusing sections. And take LOTS of notes! And when you think you are at a stopping point with that book, move on to another one and do it all again.
I have been studying the Bible this way for many years now, and each time I finish a book, I feel like I’m turning the page on an old friend. I remember where certain passages are in Scripture when before I couldn’t remember the reference to save my life. And the more books I study, the more pieces I fill in of the overall message of Scripture (metanarrative) and how it all ties together. It is incredibly fulfilling to make connections between books of the Bible you didn’t think had anything in common.
For the past two years, we have been implementing this method in the Bible Study Academy, planning to cover each book in one month. So far we have studied twenty books covering both Testaments. If you want community and accountability while you study through the Bible, click on the button below to learn more about the Bible Study Academy. We’re saving a seat just for you!
If you would like to learn more about how to study the Bible, I invite you to download my FREE Bible study workbook, 6 Steps to Study the Bible on Your Own, at the button below.
If you would like to join a group of like-minded women who are pursuing godliness together, check out the Bible Study Academy by clicking the button below.
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by Kelli Garms | Nov 10, 2023 | Bible Study, Spiritual Growth
Habakkuk is an often neglected book of the Bible. I’ll confess that before we studied it in the Bible Study Academy, I was unfamiliar with it. All I knew was that it paired well with Job, which we had studied the previous month. I had no idea what I was missing, and if you are in the same boat, I encourage you to study it out!
A Brief Summary of Habakkuk
The book of Habakkuk is three short chapters that begin with the prophet Habakkuk questioning God because the unrighteous Jews in Judah were oppressing the godly Jews. He was appalled by the treatment righteous Jews were receiving: violence, destruction, strife, contention, injustice. He took his concerns to the Lord because he didn’t see God working in their midst. But he didn’t realize he was about to hear what he least wanted to hear: God was going to send the Babylonians to conquer Judah.
In essence, God told Habakkuk, “You think this is bad? You ain’t seen nothin’ yet!” And He went on to describe the wicked Babylonians as a “bitter and hasty nation”; “dreaded and fearsome”; like leopards, wolves, and eagles; a nation that does whatever it wants with no regard for people or gods.
This leads into the second exchange between Habakkuk and God. Habakkuk was understandably disturbed by the news he heard from God, so he prayed. His fear was that the righteous would be swept up along with the wicked when the invasion occurred. After he brought his concerns to God, he waited for God to answer him.
And God did answer him. He told him that while He would use the Babylonians to judge the Israelites, He would also judge the Babylonians. He described the “five woes” of the Babylonians as an encouragement to Habakkuk that their sins against the Israelites would not go unpunished.
Habakkuk was so encouraged that the third chapter of the book is simply a prayer. He praised God for Who He is and what He has done. He remembered many of God’s mighty acts, and He chose to trust God even if his worst fears came true.
So what can we learn from studying this encounter between a prophet and his God?
God Is Sovereign
When Habakkuk first approached God, it was as if he didn’t think God knew what was going on. He echoed many of the Psalms when he asked “O LORD, how long?” But God not only acknowledged what was happening, He also had a plan for it.
It is important to notice in God’s response that the Babylonians were only able to conquer Judah because God allowed it. No matter how fierce and ruthless they were, the Babylonians were still subject to God’s sovereignty. We may look around and think the just are suffering while the wicked prosper, but we see such a small part of the tapestry that is eternity. God allows evil because it serves His purposes, and in the end, He (and by extension we) are victorious!
We also get a small taste of the doctrine of concurrence in this book because while God used the Babylonians to judge the Israelites, He also judged the Babylonians for their actions. The judgement of the Israelites was a correction, but the judgement of the Babylonians was annihilation.
God raises up nations, and He takes nations down. It is all in His hands.
Habakkuk Teaches Us How to Pray
It is interesting to see the progression of Habakkuk’s prayers through this short book. He prays three times, and each time, his relationship with God deepens.
In the first prayer, Habakkuk simply questions God: “God where are You? Don’t You see what’s going on?” It is a simple, heart-felt prayer, asking God for answers as he watches the injustice among God’s own people. It’s possible he didn’t even expect an answer.
After hearing from God, Habakkuk’s second prayer has more structure. He is still questioning God to make sure the answer He heard is really what God said because it seems unfathomable. But Habakkuk begins his second prayer by stating what he knows to be true about God: He is a covenant-keeping God, He is eternal, He is holy. Then he launches into his concerns about the impending invasion of the Babylonians.
Habakkuk’s third and final prayer in the book is straight worship. He recognizes that God is to be feared more than man. He asks God to bring revival in the in-between, while the Jews wait for their judgment. He lists many of God’s mighty works throughout history:
- The plagues in Egypt
- Crushing the enemies of Israel
- The parting of the waters
- The sun standing still for battle
In light of these things, while the coming judgment was scary, Habakkuk chose to trust God and His work. And he ends his prayer by changing his “what ifs?” to “even ifs”: Even if his worst fears come true and the righteous get swept up with the wicked, there is no food left for them to eat, there is no animal left in the stalls, he “will rejoice in the LORD” and “take joy in the God of my salvation.”
These prayers can guide us in our prayers:
- Beginning by stating what we know to be true about God puts our requests into perspective.
- We can come to Him authentically with our concerns and questions. He knows what they are anyway, so why not?
- Remembering His past actions and blessings helps us to see that He is capable of doing anything.
Habakkuk 2:1 is a pivotal verse in the lesson on prayer. Two mistakes we often make when we bring requests before God are 1) we don’t really expect an answer, or 2) we demand an answer (or worse, we demand the answer we want). Habakkuk was willing to wait for God’s timing and God’s way of answering his prayer. We don’t know how long he waited, but he expected it, and he accepted it when it came even though he didn’t like it.
Spending Time with God Changes Us
Comparing the Habakkuk at the beginning of the book to the Habakkuk at the end of the book is a bit shocking! He went from almost accusing God of being absent to trusting God wholeheartedly with his future. What brought about this change in him? Habakkuk spent time with God.
Having grown up in a pastor’s home, I was around the things of God all of the time. We were at church every time the doors were open. I sang in choirs, watched the kids in the nursery, taught junior church, participated in evangelistic campaigns, cleaned the building, you name it. If there was hole that needed plugged, my sisters and I plugged it.
But it has only been in times when I intentionally sought to spend time one-on-one with God that I have grown and matured in the Lord. For most of my life I was an immature Christian. And while I would never claim to have “arrived,” I can honestly say that the more time I spend with God in His Word, the more growth I experience.
When we spend time with God, it changes us. His Word is living and active; it pierces us to the division of soul and spirit; it discerns our thoughts and intentions (Hebrews 4:12); and it shows us what He wants for us. It can take us from trembling in fear of the future to trusting that whatever happens, He’s got it, just like it did with Habakkuk.
The Book of Habakkuk Is for Us Today
You might be wondering how we can take a private exchange between a prophet and God and apply it to our lives today. Yes, it was for the Israelites then, but the Babylonians won’t be conquering anyone anytime soon, so how do we know it is meant for us now?
First, God told Habakkuk to write it down for future posterity. He told Habakkuk to make it plain so it could be understood by anyone and could be shared by anyone. This is an indication that it was not meant only for Habakkuk’s generation or even the ones shortly after his.
Second, some of the verses in this short Old Testament book are quoted in the New Testament by Paul and the author of Hebrews. The early church is removed from Habakkuk’s time by centuries. The culture, the language, and the beliefs were already different. And the promise of an anointed one in Habakkuk was already fulfilled.
Also, when we consider the sins of the Jews for which they were being judged and the wickedness of the Babylonians, which would bring about the “five woes,” we see that their sin is no different than ours. The wicked Jews, the ruthless Babylonians, and modern day sinners have a lot in common: pride, idolatry, injustice, etc. While the players may be different, the situation is the same.
So we can confidently claim the promises and the lessons from the book of Habakkuk for ourselves.
This is just the surface of the things I’ve learned through this short but powerful book!
If you would like to learn more about how to study the Bible, I invite you to download my FREE Bible study workbook, 6 Steps to Study the Bible on Your Own, at the button below.
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by Kelli Garms | Nov 3, 2023 | Bible Study, Spiritual Growth
If you’re like I was not that long ago, every time the book of Job comes up in your Bible reading plan, you cringe just a little knowing you are about to read one of the most confusing and depressing books in the Bible. Honestly, it can leave you wondering what the point is of the book. Why did God include Job’s story in the Bible—His love letter to us?
The book can be confusing because it can be difficult to know who is speaking, if we can trust that speaker, and the motivation behind the speech. But as we unpack the layers, we can start to understand the messages we’re meant to receive from the book.
Some of the lessons are pretty clear and some take a bit more effort. Let’s start with the clearer ones.
Suffering Isn’t Always a Result of Personal Sin
I went into this topic in a previous blog post, so I won’t unpack it in detail here, but while suffering overall is a result of sin in the world, your personal suffering is not necessarily a consequence of your personal sin. The book of Job makes it clear that Job’s suffering had nothing at all to do with his personal sin but with the fact that he was so faithful to God that Satan wanted to test him.
There are actually many reasons God allows suffering in our lives. Our suffering can absolutely be the natural result of our sin, but it can also be a means God uses to draw us closer to Him, to help us recognize blessings in our lives, or to show us the power of prayer or faith. Our suffering can be a tool God uses to teach others, or it can be to show us we are not alone.
We tend to quickly jump to the conclusion that if we are suffering, we must have done something wrong, but the book of Job shows us that is not always the case. It also teaches us a lesson about judging those around us who find themselves in a season of suffering. We must be gracious, acknowledging there may be things we don’t know… but God does.
Job Teaches Us Not to Assume We See the Whole Picture
Often when we see someone suffering, we assume we understand the purposes God has for that suffering. But the truth is we don’t see the whole picture. We see a very small piece of the tapestry God is weaving, and we see it from the underside, with all of the tangles and knots.
Because God sees the full masterpiece from the right side, He knows what is best for us and what is going to accomplish His purposes. We can’t, like Job’s friends, assume that we have the whole story. As readers of the story, we are privy to information Job’s friends didn’t have. And as a result, they judged him wrongly.
One of the points the book of Job makes is that we can’t make those judgement because we don’t have all of the information. We don’t see the full picture. The book of Job teaches us to be gracious and humble as we serve those who are suffering.
Trust God in Spite of Your Circumstances
Job’s faith is inspiring! He did not allow his suffering to affect his faith, his worship, or his convictions. In spite of the emotional and physical pain he was experiencing, he made the choice to trust that God knew the truth, and he would be vindicated in the end.
Notice that Job questioned God and this is not seen as a lack of faith. God is big enough to handle our questions, and He longs for us to turn to Him in our suffering. We can’t allow our pain to drive us away from God. We must lean into Him and His strength when we don’t have our own strength to support us.
While the book of Job seems to be an extreme situation, it sets an example for us to follow in the hard times of life. Will we choose to lean in to God, or will we follow Job’s wife’s advice to “curse God and die” (Job 2:9)? God longs to sustain us even in our questions, our anger, and our pain. And because He is God, He knows the end result.
God vs. Satan
One important lesson the book of Job teaches us is the relationship between God and Satan. We often think of them as equal but opposite forces—the age old story of good versus evil. But the book of Job shows us that they are not equals.
Satan must ask God’s permission to attack Job. The book makes it clear that God had been protecting Job from Satan’s attacks, and Satan seems to think this is unfair. It always amazes me that God brags on Job, and Satan uses that as a springboard for his request.
Not only does Satan have to ask permission, but after he afflicts Job with illness, we don’t see him again anywhere in the story. He seems to just slink off as he realizes that Job is going to make a liar out of him. What started out as a story that seemed to be about these two big rivals turns into a story about a faithful man.
The book includes one of the few exchanges between God and Satan recorded for us in Scripture, and it presents a very clear picture of their dynamic: All-powerful master and begrudgingly submissive servant. Little did Satan know he was playing right into God’s plans to overwhelm Job with true joy as a result of these tests!
Job Shows Us that God Is Big Enough
Because I have grown up in church, I have heard well-intentioned people often say, “You can be angry at your situation, but you shouldn’t be angry at God.” I go into this in more detail in my short e-book, Good Grief: Wisdom for Godly Mourning from the Book of Ruth, so I will summarize here. I feel this is a matter of semantics.
God is in control of my circumstances. He could change things if He wanted. So being angry at my circumstances is the same as being angry at God. And the emotion of anger in and of itself is not a sin. So it isn’t a sin to be angry at God.
What matters is what we do with that anger. Do we raise our fists at Him and curse Him for our circumstances? Do we turn our backs on Him and wait to heal before we can speak to Him again? Or do we come to Him in our anger, pour out our hearts to Him, and let Him give us the comfort only He can give even if He never answers our questions?
God is big enough to handle our questions and our anger. Job models that for us, as does Naomi in the book of Ruth. He isn’t afraid of our anger because He knows what we are feeling and He knows why and He knows how to heal it and He knows what the result will be. Don’t be afraid to lay all of your emotions at His feet, BUT don’t turn away from Him in the midst of those emotions.
True Joy Is Found in Knowing God
After Job experienced the tragedies of his children dying, his livestock being stolen, and his crops being destroyed, after he was stricken with physical illness that literally deformed his body so he was barely recognizable, after he sat through his friends judging him and berating him because he wouldn’t acknowledge that he broke God’s law, God spoke to him in a whirlwind. The God of the universe gave Job what he wanted: an audience with Him.
But it wasn’t exactly what he asked for because God didn’t answer his questions. He did better. He revealed to Job Who He truly is. He gave Job just a glimpse of His glory, just enough for Job to realize just how little He knew of God. And as Job’s knowledge of God increased, so did his awe of God. Job realized that even when all of the pleasures of this world disappear, God is enough.
While God’s gifts bring us pleasure and joy in this life, true joy comes from knowing Him. As we get to know Him, we fall deeper in love with Him, and the more we see ourselves through His eyes.
And what a blessing that today He doesn’t have to speak to us through a whirlwind in the chaos of this world because He has written us a beautiful love letter—a letter that is living and active and allows us to go deeper each time we read it. The more time we spend in the Word of God, the more we get to know Him, the deeper we fall in love with Him, and the more we experience deep, honest joy.
If you would like to learn more about how to study the Bible, I invite you to download my FREE Bible study workbook, 6 Steps to Study the Bible on Your Own, at the button below.
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by Kelli Garms | Sep 29, 2023 | Bible Study, Spiritual Growth
Updated: A version of this post was published on May 13, 2020, under the title How to Be Victorious over Suffering.
When I hear people say the book of Job is their favorite book of the Bible, I will admit it gives me pause. A book about a man who loses everything, including his children, all in one day and then is physically attacked by illness and disease would not be my first choice as a favorite book of the Bible. And yet, there are so many lessons to be learned from Job.
Nothing I have gone through in my life compares to what Job faced, and I hope and pray that won’t change. But we all face suffering in our lives. It takes different forms for different people, but we will all experience it.
As Christians, how do we navigate suffering? Job’s friends did it wrong. They believed only one thing could be true about God: He punishes wickedness. As a result, they couldn’t help Job navigate his suffering because his suffering was based on his sin.
Job, himself, teaches us how to navigate our hardships as Christians. He demonstrates how to suffer yet still trust, how to remain faithful when we don’t understand what God is doing, how to lean in to God rather than pull away from Him when our hearts or bodies are broken. Are you intrigued? Let’s look at Job 23:8-14.
8 Behold, I go forward, but he is not there,
and backward, but I do not perceive him;
9 on the left hand when he is working, I do not behold him;
he turns to the right hand, but I do not see him.
10 But he knows the way that I take;
when he has tried me, I shall come out as gold.
11 My foot has held fast to his steps;
I have kept his way and have not turned aside.
12 I have not departed from the commandment of his lips;
I have treasured the words of his mouth more than my portion of food.
13 But he is unchangeable, and who can turn him back?
What he desires, that he does.
14 For he will complete what he appoints for me,
and many such things are in his mind.
(ESV)
Seek God in Your Suffering
In verses 8 through 10, we learn that even in his suffering, Job was searching for God. This is a sign of a true child of God. He didn’t allow his suffering to cloud his knowledge; instead, he allowed his knowledge to test his feelings. In spite of Job feeling like God had abandoned him, he clung to the confidence that God knew where he was and was still sovereign.
Job also recognized that God was somehow working through his suffering. While he couldn’t see what God was doing and nothing that was happening made sense to him, Job understood that God can work through our pain, not only in our own lives, but also in the lives of those around us. A we read the rest of the book of Job, we find that God used Job’s suffering to touch Job’s entire community.
Job was determined not to disappoint God. He believed that when this season of his life was over, he would “come out as gold.” God was using his circumstances to refine him, and he was convinced he would succeed. What an incredible testimony to believers who are in a hard and painful season!
Know Him through His Word
How could Job be so confident that God would show up, he would survive, and he would actually be better on the other side of this situation? Verse 11 gives us some insight. Job could cling to this confidence because he knew God. He had prepared ahead of time for this struggle by spending time with God and getting to know Him.
Job was certain he had not sinned in a way that would cause this suffering. He knew what God expected of him, and he lived by those guidelines. He understood that, yes, suffering can be a result of sin, but that wasn’t what was happening. The only way he could know these things was because he had a personal, intimate relationship with God.
While it is never too late to turn to God and His Word, we are better served if we prepare ahead of time, building a foundation that will sustain us in hard times.
Obey God in spite of Your Feelings
Not only did Job know God, but he applied what he knew. He obeyed. He put into action the things he learned about what pleased God.
Verse 12 shows us that Job was invested in doing what God wanted him to do. And if we look back at the beginning of the book, we find that Job would frequently offer sacrifices to God on behalf of his children just in case they had sinned and weren’t repentant. He was dedicated in his service to the Lord.
It wasn’t enough to know God, Job understood he had to obey God, too. That meant obeying God even in the midst of his suffering.
Trust Him When You Don’t Understand
In verses 13 and 14, we see that somehow, in all of his suffering, Job trusted that what was happening was part of the plan God had for completing what He had appointed. Job understood that we cannot make God do anything through manipulation or blackmail. He will fulfill His purpose. This is the hardest step, and it depends on the other three steps.
This is good news because it means we can trust Him to accomplish his will no matter what. Our actions don’t thwart His plans, our suffering isn’t because someone else messed things up, our pain serves a purpose. And in all of it, we can give glory to God!
If we wait until the crisis hits to seek after God, we will not have the foundation we need to withstand the storm. What do you need to do to start seeking Him today? Do you need to make time in your schedule to spend time in the Word? Do you need to apply what you know to do? Or do you need to trust Him instead of relying on your feelings in your current situation?
If you are currently in a season of suffering or mourning, or you know someone who is, I have written a short e-book about mourning in a godly way. When I was struggling through the many facets of grief (some still ongoing), I had more questions than answers. God graciously took me through the book of Ruth during that time, which taught me some lessons about mourning, not as those who have no hope, but full of hope and peace.
To learn more about the e-book, Good Grief: Wisdom for Godly Mourning from the Book of Ruth, click the button below.
If you would like to learn more about how to study the Bible, I invite you to download my FREE Bible study workbook, 6 Steps to Study the Bible on Your Own, at the button below.
If you would like to join a group of like-minded women who are pursuing godliness together, check out the Bible Study Academy by clicking the button below.
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