Job’s Story: Crisis of Control

Instead of being perceived as a story of suffering and patience, what if we viewed the Book of Job through the lens of crisis and crisis response.

We know one “factor” that makes a critical incident a crisis is expectancy, or the lack thereof.  The story of Job illustrates this point.

“There was a man in the land of Uz, whose name was Job, and that man was blameless, upright and fearing God, and turning away from evil.”
(Job 1:1; NAS)

Within the first paragraphs, we learn that Job enjoys a big family, friends, wealth, and so on.  Then tragedy strikes!  Job loses everything.  His family…killed. His wealth…lost.  His health…failing.  Everything that was “normal” is now abnormal.  For Job, life is now out-of-control and  Job begins  feeling the impact of his crisis.

“Job opened his mouth and cursed the day of his birth”
(Job 3:1; NAS)

For the next thirty-something chapters, Job laments his condition and his unwanted circumstances…until he is stopped by the voice of his Almighty.

“Where were you when I laid the foundation of the earth?  Tell Me, if you have understanding?”
(Job 38:4; NAS)

I often think of this rebuke when I find myself feeling out-of-control.  No matter how big or small my personal tragedy, this rebuke has brought me a strange sense of comfort.  For those grounded in faith, this verse (and those following) reminds us that control belongs to something or someone else.  My feeling “out-of-control” – while in crisis – does not make me helpless or mean I’m alone.  I am still connected to that which is greater and beyond me.

For Chaplains: whether the one in crisis is a “believer” or not, the instillation of hope is still possible when considering the story of Job.  Consider sharing Job’s story from the perspective of loss of control; then consider shifting (or reframing) one’s perspective to a “bigger” picture – a more global perspective of understanding tragedy and our place in it.  Not one of us were present when the foundations of the earth were laid.  Our place on this rock is full of uncertainty and liability.  The problem is that we only see it from our perspective.  Who’s to say that this event, this tragedy, this sadness happened exactly the way it was supposed to happen – with reasons and understanding far beyond our ability to interpret.  I can’t say for certain – I wasn’t there when the foundations of the earth were laid…

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