Among the many trials Job faced during his time of temptation by Satan was loneliness. All of Job’s ten adult children had died. In great sorrow Job mourned for them.
After Job became sick, he also lost the support of his friends and his position of leadership in the community. Thought this was hard, perhaps the loss of fellowship Job felt most keenly was the loss of closeness to his wife. In the beginning of his illness, she did not encourage him and try to lift him up so that he would have strength to go on with the Lord and not give up. Rather, she urged him to curse God and die. Instead of being able to lean on his wife for support and strength, Job had to rebuke her and then turn to face his struggles without the help of the one he loved best.
There is no record that Job’s wife continued to discourage him with her words. However, the oneness that he had enjoyed with her for so many years was gone. Job said, “My breath is strange to my wife, though I intreated for the children’s sake of mine own body.” (Job 19:17) They had lost their children together, and now Job wanted to mourn together. How he longed for her gentle caresses and comforting words! His heart yearned for her closeness, but she was not there for him.
Humanly speaking, Job was all alone. There was not one person he could turn to that would support him, pray with him, or encourage him. Not only was he left without support or help, but he was also rejected. His family forsook him, his friends criticized and accused him, his servants ignored him, society scorned him, and his wife did not relate properly to him.
In spite of all this, Job had one hope. He knew that one day, in his flesh, he would see God. Job could not see God during all of his dark trial, but he knew that God was alive, and that he would surely see him one day. This hope is expressed in Job 19:25-27, “25For I know that my redeemer liveth, and that he shall stand at the latter day upon the earth: 26And though after my skin worms destroy this body, yet in my flesh shall I see God: 27Whom I shall see for myself, and mine eyes shall behold, and not another; though my reins be consumed within me.”
Are you struggling with loneliness today? Does the way seem long and dark so that you cannot see God in your trials? Perhaps you cannot see Him now, but He is alive. If you know Jesus as your Saviour, you will see God one day. You will stand before him in your resurrected body, and your eyes will behold Him. Oh, the day when you will see your Heavenly Father face to face! (See Revelation 22:3,4) Never give up hope. God is surely alive, and you will see Him soon!