I'm worried about becoming like Job

[BenSinner]

I’ve recently been in good spirits after coming out of wave of depression this winter. And the reading at Mass talked about Job.

This triggered a fear in me that God, at any point, could inflict a horrendous set of circumstances at me that would put me in a deep depression like it did with Job, but this isn’t mere depression, this is a demonic attack that can only be cured by loving God out of pure love.

I’m afraid God will inflict this on me, and I’m not as noble as Job. I won’t be able to trust and love God like he did, so I worry about being back in depression and staying in it for the rest of my life, IF God did that to me.

Does anybody else have this fear?

 

[Tis_Bearself]

Sure, I have it frequently. I think it’s a common fear of people who have led a relatively happy and blessed life.

One just needs to pray more, trust God more, and ask Him to help you use your blessings to do more for others daily.

 

[StephieNorthCo]

And remember God will not allow any temptation beyond your ability to overcome it. Ever.

 

[Crocus]

And remember, God will not give you more than you can handle, though sometimes that also means getting help you need.

(@StephieNorthCo, beat me again, almost word for word! )

 

[Mary888]

Just wanted to add one word before Job’s name - saint. He is a saint. So does he have any regrets now of what happened to him? Do you think he does? :hugs:

 

[RandomAlias]

Aha! I just made a connection between the Scripture reading today about Job and the recessional hymn we sang at the end of Mass, O God Beyond All Praising, particularly this fragment:

and whether our tomorrows
be filled with good or ill,
we’II triumph through our sorrows
and rise to bless you still

So, @BenSinner, whatever comes, I pray that your faith, hope, and love will remain strong.

 

[Le_Bonvivant]

Job is a jewish, allegoric story from a time before Jesus had come for our salvation. Use it for inspiration, not to feed your fears.

 

[TK421]

@BenSinner

As far as our human nature is concerned: everybody has this fear.

At the same time, I saw a certain person [Father Sopocko] and, in part, the condition of his soul and the ordeals God was sending him. His sufferings were of the mind and in a form so acute that I pitied him and said to the Lord, “Why do you treat him like that?” And the Lord answered, For the sake of his triple crown. And the Lord also gave me to understand what unimaginable glory awaits the person who resembles the suffering Jesus here on earth. That person will resemble Jesus in His glory. The Heavenly Father will recognize and glorify our soul to the extent that He sees in us a resemblance to His Son. I understood that this assimilation into Jesus is granted to us while we are here on earth. -Diary of St Faustina

(To be clear, this message isn’t remotely unique to St Faustina. It has always been with the Church)

Don’t be discouraged though. God will never abandon us. He always gives us what we need to complete our mission.

 

[Kei]

Take trust and hope in knowing that you will not be tested beyond your ability.

 

[stuartbrianhenlis]

Hi Ben,

Yes, I understand your fears of God’s wrath, as well as your depression. I was going to post about my difficulty trusting God, but you pretty much said it for me.

Depression can twist our thinking into knots!

Are you receiving treatment?

Besides talking to your priest, tell your therapist about your fears. They aren’t demonic, they’re biochemical. Trust God, trust yourself, and trust your therapist.

Stuart

 

[evangelical]

Job was a minister. That’s why he didn’t get depressed over problems.
The lord God gives and takes away. Blessed be. The Lord