The Bible Breakdown

Job 16: I've Heard it All Before

Brandon Cannon Episode 509

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Have you ever wondered why those who are always there to uplift others often struggle in silence when they need encouragement the most? Join us on the Bible Breakdown Podcast as we turn our focus to Job, chapter 16, to uncover some profound lessons about suffering, support, and the hidden struggles of constant encouragers. We dissect Job's candid expressions of frustration with his friends' failed attempts at comfort and his feeling of being unjustly targeted by God and abandoned by people. This episode will open your eyes to the reality that even the most resilient encouragers need support during their difficult times.

Encouragers often find it hard to seek support, and we explore why this is and how it affects their well-being. We urge those who are always uplifting others to find someone they trust and open up about their struggles. By fostering a culture of vulnerability and honesty, we can better support our community's unsung heroes. Additionally, we discuss the power of reaching out to the encouragers in your life, giving them the space to express their true feelings. Through prayer and reflection on God's wisdom, let's recognize those around us who can offer support and trust in God's plan, even in the midst of suffering.

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The More You Dig. The More You Find.

Speaker 1:

Well, everybody, welcome back to the Bible Breakdown Podcast with your host, pastor Brandon, today. Job, chapter 16, today's title is I have heard it all before. I have heard it all before. I don't know about you, but sometimes the hardest people to encourage are the people who are good at encouraging others. It's almost like I've always heard it said that doctors make the worst patients right Because they already know the things, and so it's almost like I've always heard it said that doctors make the worst patients right Because they already know the things, and so it's really hard. Well, we're going to see how that happens in the life of Job and see if maybe some of it's true for us as well, but we'll get into that in just a moment.

Speaker 1:

If you like what we're doing here, make sure you like, share and subscribe to the YouTube channel and the podcast. Leave us a five-star review on the podcast you are always my favorites and also leave us some comments in the YouTube channel, because I love interacting with you. I love answering and asking questions of my own, and the more we dig, the more we find, which is also why you need to go to the Facebook group Bible Breakdown Discussion, because we gather together there and we look through and we study and we look at the devotions that are posted every day by that amazing team, and it's just wonderful how we're able to grow together. So make sure you go there as well. And it's just an honor to be able to dig, because the more we dig, the more we find. Well, if you have your Bibles, I want to open up with me to Job, chapter 16.

Speaker 1:

Remember that this overall idea is trusting God's wisdom in suffering. You know, we learn a lot about God through good times, but we learn so much more when we walk through dark times, because sometimes we have to get to the end of our strength before we see what strength truly is coming from God, because we go. You know I couldn't have done this myself. It had to be God. And that's what we're seeing in the life of Job, and I am so encouraged by the book of Job because he gives me permission to not enjoy suffering, you know, to not enjoy hard times, but to understand that I can trust God while at the same time not being happy about it. He said, god, I don't want any of this, but I'd rather be with you than without you. And what we're going to see today and also remember that most of the book of Job is an unfortunate conversation between Job's horrible friends, who think they're doing good but they're not, and Job, who is defending himself. I mean, they came to help him and now there's an argument, right Well, in Job, chapter 16, what we're going to see here is Job is going to say this is what I would do if I were you.

Speaker 1:

And one of the things that we see coming up over and over again is Job and the friends saying you know, job, you've been good, you've helped other people in the past, but now you're kind of struggling, and what I want us to already think about as we read this is of struggling, and what I want us to already think about as we read this is you ever met somebody who is the constant encourager? They're the one who's always got a kind word. They're the one that's always, you know, trying to bring some sunshine. They've always got that positive spin. Well, obviously they need help too, right, they need some different things to encourage them in their life and all that good stuff. But it's often really difficult to encourage those people because they're encouragers, and we're gonna see how this is so very real and maybe see what we can do to encourage them, and also what to do if you are that person and you find yourself sometimes going through hard times. So if you're ready, job, chapter 16, verse one says this "'Then Job spoke again.

Speaker 1:

I have heard all this before. What miserable comforters you are. Won't you ever stop blowing hot air? I was telling him, like it is what makes you keep on talking. I could say the same thing if you were in my place. I could scoff or spout off criticism and shake my head at you.

Speaker 1:

But if it were me, I would encourage you. I would try to take away your grief. Instead. I suffer if I defend myself, and I suffer no less if I refuse to speak. Oh God, you have ground me down by devastating my family, as if to prove I have sinned. You have reduced me to skin and bones. My gaunt flesh testifies against me. God hates me and angrily tears me apart. He snaps his teeth at me and pierces me with his eyes. People jeer and laugh at me. They slap my cheeks in contempt. A mob gathers against me. God has handed me over to sinners. He has tossed me into the hands of the wicked. I was living quietly until he shattered me. He took me by the neck and broke me into pieces. Then he set me up as a target and now his archers surround me. His arrows pierce me without mercy. The ground is wet with my blood. Again and again, he smashes against me, charging at me like a warrior. I wear burlap to show my grief, and my pride lies in the dust. My eyes are red, with weeping, and dark shadows circle my eyes. Yet I have done no wrong and my prayer is pure oh earth, do not conceal my blood. Let it cry out on my behalf Y'all really are bad at this. Y'all are not helping me.

Speaker 1:

And then he goes into saying this is what I'm going through, and a lot of times what happens is is we have a hard time understanding that encouragers need encouragement too, and that's kind of the takeaway that I want us to take with us from Job, chapter 16 is Job tells them hey, listen, I have heard it all before. I have said to others what you are trying to say to me, which is encouragement, but let me let you in on what's going on. And so I want to talk to maybe two different types of people, and that is, first of all, if you are the type of person that is constantly encouraging others but you find yourself discouraged sometimes. Can I go ahead and ask this for everybody around you? You need to let us know sometimes when you need encouragement. You need to pull back that veil and get honest. That's what Job does, is he says, hey, listen, I want to share with you what's really going on. And he says I'm hurting, I'm struggling, I feel like the world is against me. I feel like God is against me. I know I've encouraged others in the past, but this is how I feel, and so I want to say if you're the person who's constantly encouraging others, every once in a while it's okay to get honest. Now I understand that's difficult.

Speaker 1:

I've talked to people before who are the constant encouragers and they say that it's hard to encourage others because they're so used to other people, are so used to them being upbeat that when they struggle, other people think the sky is falling. If you're having a bad day, we're all done for right, but you need to let us know because we want to be able to be encouraging. So your homework today is if you're that person who's constantly upbeat, constantly encouraging others, I want you to find somebody you trust and if you're going through a difficult time, get honest with them and just say that hey, listen, I'm okay and it's going to be okay, but can I get honest with you? I'm not doing okay right now. I need someone to pray for me. I need someone to just be a listening ear, because many times, people around you, the reason why they're not encouraging you is they don't realize you need it, and I realize they need to pay more attention. I get that, but help us out and let us know how we can be more encouraging to you. Now, on the other side, if you know someone who's constantly encouraging others, I want to encourage you to be a listening ear, to ask them are you okay? And then, when they say, yes, I'm so good, I'm too blessed to be stressed Okay, that's great. Hey, I want to ask you again are you okay? And give them permission to not be okay.

Speaker 1:

Many times, encouragers are afraid that they don't want to put their negative moment on someone else, and so give them permission to be open and be honest, because one of the things that we have to realize is that we can trust God's wisdom in suffering, and what I believe is that, for most of us, god has put around us people who can speak into our lives and they can help us if we will open up to them. I think that in God's wisdom he has put these people around us, but we got to take a step of vulnerability and honesty so that we can experience all that God has for us. Let's pray together, god, thank you so much for today. Thank you, god, that you have put people in our lives that can speak into our lives in ways that we don't even realize. I pray you will open our eyes today to help us to see those people around us. If maybe for the encourager, help them to realize those in their life that can handle it when they're not feeling encouraged and they can open up to them. And, lord, for others who see that person who's constantly encouraging others, lord, that you will put it in their heart to go to that person and say, hey, let's have a conversation.

Speaker 1:

And I pray, god, that in that you will heal some wounds, you'll bring some relief and that Holy Spirit. Maybe we are going to be the miracle that somebody else needs. In Jesus' name, we pray Amen. And then what God's word says in Job 1, verse 21,. I came naked from my mother's womb. I'll be naked when I leave. The Lord gave me what I had and the Lord has taken it away. But praise the name of the Lord. In other words, it all belongs to him and I trust him with everything. I love you. I'll see you.

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