Job: the Battered Lighthouse That Keeps on Shining!: Surviving and Overcoming Your Season of Suffering

By Francis Raj

Job faced the powers of heaven and earth in the form false accusations, condemnations, judgments, and wrong advice from his closest friends and family members, but he refused to give in or let up, even though he was shaken to his core. When you are experiencing the trials and tribulations of life, do you ever wish you had the “fighting spirit” of Job? Job: The Battered Lighthouse That Keeps On Shining! can help you to stay anchored in your belief in God, even when your life seems like it is at its lowest point.

Author and licensed mental health counselor Francis Raj guides us through the book of Job and shows us how we can endure and overcome sufferings—both inside and out— by relying on our faith in God to redeem us. Job experienced many of the physical, mental, and emotional symptoms that we experience today, and from his story we can learn how to be blameless, upright, and God-fearing even amid suffering.

When the darkness closes in, have your light shining bright! Believe in the sun when it is not shining—and believe in God when He is silent! And then, like Job, even when your integrity is bruised, it will not be destroyed as your faith in God will sustain you. For you can remain faithful and hopeful as you wait to encounter God.

• Language: English
• Publisher: WestBow Press
• Release date: Feb 15, 2019
• ISBN: 9781973652434

Francis Raj

Francis Raj is a licensed professional counselor in the states of Virginia, Nevada and Florida, and he is also a certified substance abuse counselor, board-certified national certified counselor, and approved clinical supervisor. For seventeen years, Francis has been practicing mental health and substance abuse clinical counseling and therapy at outpatient and inpatient settings. Prior to coming to the United States for his education at Liberty University, he was an ordained pastor while in Malaysia, his native country. Francis holds a Bachelor’s degree in psychology and a Master’s degree in professional counseling.

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Copyright © 2019 Francis Raj.

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This book is a work of non-fiction. Unless otherwise noted, the author and the publisher make no explicit guarantees as to the accuracy of the information contained in this book and in some cases, names of people and places have been altered to protect their privacy.

Scripture quotations are taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.

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Because of the dynamic nature of the Internet, any web addresses or links contained in this book may have changed since publication and may no longer be valid. The views expressed in this work are solely those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of the publisher, and the publisher hereby disclaims any responsibility for them.

ISBN: 978-1-9736-5244-1 (sc)

ISBN: 978-1-9736-5245-8 (hc)

ISBN: 978-1-9736-5243-4 (e)

Library of Congress Control Number: 2019901095

WestBow Press rev. date: 02/11/2019

Contents

Preface

Acknowledgments

Introduction

Chapter 1 Why Suffer?

Chapter 2 His Wealth, Possession, and Circle of Relationships

Chapter 3 His Relationship with God and His Walk with Him

Chapter 4 His Accuser—Satan

Chapter 5 His Tragedy and His Agony

Chapter 6 His Sufferings from Inside

Chapter 7 His Sufferings from Outside

Chapter 8 His God—The Watcher of Men

Chapter 9 The Gladiator’s Blood and Sweat

Chapter 10 Job’s Secret of Staying in the Ring

Chapter 11 Understanding and Managing Suicidal Ideations from Intrusive and Impulsive Thoughts

Chapter 12 Are You Suffering?

Chapter 13 Conclusion

Appendix 1

Appendix 2

Appendix 3

About the Author

Be Patient!

Therefore, be patient, brethren, until the coming of the Lord. See how the farmer waits for the precious fruit of the earth, waiting patiently for it until it receives the early and latter rain. You also be patient. Establish your hearts, for the coming of the Lord is at hand. Do not grumble against one another, brethren, lest you be condemned. Behold, the Judge is standing at the door!

My brethren, take the prophets, who spoke in the name of the Lord,

as an example of suffering and patience.

Indeed, we count them blessed who endure.

You have heard of the perseverance of JOB and seen the end intended by the Lord that the Lord is very compassionate and merciful.

- James 5:7–11 -

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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.

- Job 42:10 -

Preface

H ere’s my disclaimer. I am neither an expert on biblical characters or on matters of theology. I did not go to a Bible school or college for a theological or seminary education. However, I did go to Liberty University, a Christian University in Lynchburg, Virginia for my formal education. Here I acquired an Associate of Arts degree in Religion as a minor study, a bachelor’s degree in psychology and a master’s degree in professional counseling.

This book about the life of Job comes from my personal studies and experiences. I also have had the opportunity to observe and work with many Christians and non-Christians as patients who encountered situations of hopelessness, helplessness, despondency, and brokenness. I provided mental health counseling and assisted many of these people as a licensed mental health clinician and also for a period of time as a mental health consultant at the local hospital ER in Lynchburg.

Apart from Jesus, my Lord, Savior, and Christ, Job has been one of my go-to person. I consider even using the WWJD slogan for both Jesus and Job to keep some perspectives in line. My current knowledge of the Bible, Jesus the Christ, and Job have come from my own extensive study and mediation on the holy scriptures. I have also studied the lives of many others in the Bible on how they, too, suffered and left behind some good examples to follow. There are some who have suffered for wrong personal reasons, and from them, we learn to avoid their mistakes and pitfalls. Jesus and Job both have suffered much and left behind a life exemplifying perseverance and patience, and their life and their suffering with great final outcomes will always be great examples for us to emulate and follow.

By writing this book, I hope to embark on a journey of peeling away some background information on Job as he teaches us on how to be blameless, upright, fearing God, shunning evil and to be faithful to Him while suffering with iron-clad hope, iron-willed determination and a trust in God that is unshakeable in the midst of the worst of worst that life can throw at us.

This book is about knowing God as He seeks to be known. Jesus said in His High Priestly Prayer in John 17:3, which says, And this is eternal life that they may know You, the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom You have sent. May this book and the words in it help you find God in a richer, more intimate, and more personal way.

Acknowledgments

I dedicate this book to the many Jobs who are suffering in the missions field around the world and spreading the gospel in hostile environments while suffering for righteousness sake. To you, the called-out ones, with high respect, I say, You have chosen of your own free will to give up the comforts of this world and work in very challenging and demanding places and circumstances as you persevere to be the light of the world and the salt of the earth. Many of you have suffered wrongful accusations in the mission fields, and many rightly so because you bring out the truth and have laid down your lives for the cause of the gospel! Precious in the sight of God is the death of His saints (Psalm 116:15)

I also dedicate this book to the many ordinary people who have suffered abuse, trauma, persecution, wrongful accusations, and all sorts of suffering from and by those who are deviant in their ways, self-centered, and abusive by nature. May each one of you take hold of the words in this book and learn to overcome adversities and challenges. May you discover God in a new and fresh way as He works in and through you to help you attain victory and freedom.

Trust in the Lord with all your heart,

And lean not on your own understanding;

In all your ways acknowledge Him,

And He shall direct your paths.

- Proverbs 3:5–6 -

For I know that my Redeemer lives

- Job 19:25 -

Introduction

T he book of Job is the eighteenth book in the Christian Bible. It comes up before the book of Psalms. This book is one of the oldest books in the Bible. Job is a character who lived in the times of Abraham and predates Moses, who came onto the scene later and went on to write the first five books of the Bible. Job as we read offered sacrifices without being called into the office as a priest, which was a formal role and dedicated service that was established during the time of Moses. Job is a person who is well known to Christians, non-Christians, and people in the secular world in general. The book of Job is often considered a poetic book for the sake of literature. However, in my opinion, it is more than poetry. It is a book on theology that expounds a deeper knowledge of God.

The Book of Job is the story of a man who attained a level of understanding of God and His nature that he puts all his trust, hope, and purposeful existence in Him, confidently. His attributes then draw the attention and praise of God Himself and his greatest enemy, Satan, the accuser of the brethren (Revelation 12:10) and one who seeks to steal, kill, and destroy (John 10:10). Satan hoped to break down this man and separate him from his relationship with God. But this man shows a side of a human, a dedicated servant of God, who is capable of withstanding any and all onslaughts thrown at him. He faces himself in all his vulnerabilities, and yet he stays anchored on his trust and faith in God. He faces numerous questions about God and His alleged part in his suffering, all of which leave him dealing with more questions; however, none that changed his opinions and thoughts about God. Despite all of these, he remains anchored in his integrity and refuses to give up.

He faced the powers of heaven and earth in the form of false accusations, condemnations, judgments, and wrong advice from his closest friends and family members, but he refused to give in or let up, even though he was shaken to his core. His integrity was bruised but not destroyed. Prior to his testing, he was deemed by God as blameless and upright. He feared God and shunned evil, and he remained as such through his trials till he encountered God. Job’s values, morals, faith, and hope were challenged in the midst of his suffering, and he was accused of bringing his sufferings upon himself. Despite all of these, he stayed anchored in his belief in God, whom he regarded as his Redeemer (Job 19:25).

Job suffered mental agony, emotional anguish, depression, anxiety, abandonment, emotional trauma, and even severe suicidal ideations, but without a plan. Job became so despondent at times that he sought death as a way of escape. Yet despite of all these, he stayed anchored in his faith in God and kept believing that after all these tests, he will come out as gold (Job 23:10).

Job suffered extreme physical pain, mental and emotional trauma, physical and emotional exhaustion, and the ravages of a decaying human body brought about by the boils he suffered. Yet despite all of these, Job keeps looking to God as his source and hope. He keeps on believing in God even when He is silent.

Job shows us the human