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Guest Blog: Job’s Wife–a reality check

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Jobs Wife Blog Post by Guest Contributor Betsy Price

Do you remember the story of Job? God allowed Satan to torment him in order to prove Job’s faith. Satan destroyed all Job’s livestock (which was wealth back then), killed Job’s servants, and murdered his ten children in a windstorm. Then to top it all off, God allowed Satan to give Job boils from head to foot.

After all this happened, Job’s wife, the poor lady is not even given a name, makes the statement that she will now be known for until the end of time:

“Do you still hold fast your integrity? Curse God and die.”

Yup, you read that correctly. She basically told her husband, “So, what is living this life of faith getting you? Give up on God.”

She is infamous.

I could easily be she.

You see, this has been a very rough couple of years for our family. My husband has been unemployed for about a year and a half. We lost our home to foreclosure and were evicted from the next place we resided due to late payment. We have lost three vehicles to repossession, my step-father died, and I was diagnosed with hypertension and Type 2 diabetes.

I am not sharing this to gain your pity (although prayers are always appreciated). I am sharing this to show we have been through a lot. Thankfully, not Job’s lot, but a lot none the less.

Generally, I try to keep as much of my own angst about the situation to myself and not tell my husband. He has enough of a burden on him without me adding to it. Not sharing can be challenging because I am very used to sharing my thoughts and concerns. Obviously, however, he lives here and clearly knows my concerns and my challenges through our situation. He cannot miss the times I struggle to come up with the next meal because of our empty pantry and fridge. He does not ignore the few times the tears overflow; no longer willing or able to be dammed back.

While I attempt to hold my thoughts to myself, others do not.

Along with unemployment and hard times comes advice. Everyone seems to know what we should do. Go here to find a job. Do this to find a job. Maybe I should go back to the classroom. We need to check out Dave Ramsey.

Advice or Accusation And sometimes advice turns into mild accusations. Why did you keep your daughter in ballet as long as you did? Why are you still at home and homeschooling when you could be working to help your family? Have you checked out Dave Ramsey, yet?

Then there are the ultimate Job’s friends. You know, the ones who actually blame you for God’s sovereign plan. My husband ran into a few of these this week. You are being too prideful and expecting a “cushy” job instead of any job. You are clearly in sin because someone who does not support his household is worse than an infidel. You are obviously not following Dave Ramsey.

Yup, all those are actual comments and it was about that time that I could have very easily turned into Job’s wife.

In my anger, fear, and weariness, I had it in my power to say the wrong thing that would cause my husband to stumble. In my own hurt, I could have questioned his faithfulness to God, our faithfulness to our church, the faithfulness of our friends and family or any combination of the above. Even days later, pain can rear its ugly head and could easily lash out at my husband as he strains under the discipline God has him under. My negative, hurting comment could easily bring him to the breaking point.

All that brought Job’s wife to mind. I think we need to give her a break. Yes, she definitely made the wrong choice, but do not forget she had been facing the same challenges he had. She too had been bearing the weight of the tests her husband had been facing.

And now she is remembered throughout history for her one recorded failure.

I want to encourage all of us, however, about the power we have over our husband. We do not have to be in the throes of God’s testing to say the wrong thing to our husband.

Remember…

Let no corrupting talk come out of your mouths, but only such as is good for building up, as fits the occasion, that it may give grace to those who hear (Ephesians 4:29 ESV).

And I KNOW it is a “God”-incidence that these two verses are back to back…

Death and life are in the power of the tongue, and those who love it will eat its fruits. He who finds a wife finds a good thing and obtains favor from the LORD (Proverbs 18:21-22 ESV).

I guess my point is that I understand. I understand the challenge of wanting the luxury of regurgitating all my hurt and pain onto my husband. There may be time to share “as fits the occasion,” but we cannot risk our husband’s integrity and character or our own for that matter to selfishly give in to self-pity and anger.

Your lot may not be like mine or Job’s wife. It may be worse. Hopefully, it is better! Regardless, take every opportunity to practice speaking encouragement and edification to your husband. The more we do so now, the easier it will be when times are more challenging.

After all, we do not want to be one of those wives that “go down in infamy”!

Betsy price Betsy Price is a stay-at-home wife & mom and homeschool teacher and she enjoys it all (most of the time!). NO, she doesn’t get bored! And what is her purpose? “To glorify God and enjoy Him forever!”

P.S. Since writing this article, my husband has found a job. Praise the Lord!


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