Just Where Is Rock Bottom?
Don’t get me wrong here. I’m doing fine. I haven’t hit bottom, but as someone looking in from the outside, events have caused me to ponder about where rock bottom really is.
The most glaring example of rock bottom I can think of is from the Bible. There is this book Job (with a long o) in the Old Testament, neatly tucked in right before Psalms. This guy was rich. He was popular. He had a great family and lots of friends. One day, he lost it all. He had stuff stolen, crops burned, and to top it off his family was killed when a roof collapsed. At the time, Job didn’t know, but he was being testing. God had allowed all this to happen to him because he knew that Job would remain faithful.
Put yourself in that situation. You lose everything. Forget possessions. All that can be replaced. You lose your family. All your friends. Is that rock bottom?
It got worse. Job got sick. He had nasty sores all over his body. All his remaining friends insisted that he should “curse God and die”. He remained faithful.
So why has this come to mind? I know somebody. They were by no means rich but they were content. Things happened. Dreams were shattered, relationships broken and the one thing that this person wants is out of reach. Then come health problems which lead to loss of employment and insurance. Is this rock bottom?
I want to reach out to this person but don’t know how. I know they must be hurting and I feel helpless.
Just this week I learned that this person was in a potentially fatal accident. After seeing the carnage it truly is a wonder that they are still alive. Is this rock bottom? How do you keep going with blow after blow of bad news from all directions?
I know that my faith would be shaken. I would be angry at God. I would ask “Why me?” I would wonder, is God testing me as he did Job, or am I victim of my own circumstances. Is the hurt and pain I feel serving a purpose? Will it end? What more could happen? Does my story end with “happily ever after?”
Well for Job it did. Through all his trials he remained faithful to his God. He was blessed in return. Job was given back all he had lost and then some. His original wealth was multiplied many times. He started a new family. He died a very happy and very wealthy man.
So where is rock bottom? I guess that depends on your faith.