Suicide Among our Military and Job’s Survival II

Posted on June 15, 2012 by Grose

As I look at Job’s longing for death, I note three important safeguards, which may have kept him alive long enough for him to recover.

1. Job’s family. Although she chided him at the beginning, Job’s wife stood by him until the end. His brothers and sisters, not mentioned at the beginning, also supported him at the end. Soldiers with combat experience need family support.

2. Job’s friends. Most important, his friends, who met, came together  to visit Job when they heard about his tragedies, sat with him in compassionate silence for a week, let Job talk and talk.  Although they misinterpreted Job’s tragedies as a sign of God’s punishment for personal sin, they provided critical social support.  How can you take your own life, when your friends won’t leave you alone? Finally, they endured with him until the end. Soldiers with combat experience also need peers who will help them overcome their fear of being seen as weak.

3. God. Then, too, Job’s persistence in seeking a confrontation with God played a part in his survival. Even though he wanted to die, he had to live long enough to obtain vindication from God. When God graciously granted Job an audience, Job found not only survival, but also blessing. Soldiers with combat experience need to see a way to live.

Like Job, our returning veterans, then, need family support, friends to help overcome the shame of seeking help, and a reason to live beyond themselves.

Watch for my next blog July 13.

About Grose

Gordon Grose loves most to write, speak, and preach on the message of hope from the book of Job. Using drama, video, and PowerPoint, he has preached and presented this message of hope to churches around the country. Grose pastored three congregations 25 years, then served 12 years as a pastoral counselor in a Portland, Oregon counseling clinic. He now serves with Good Samaritan Counseling Services, Beaverton, OR. A graduate of Wheaton College (IL), Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary, Brandeis University, and Boston University, he comes from a rich and varied background in theological and counseling training. In 2015, Gordon published Tragedy Transformed: How Job's Recovery Can Provide Hope For Yours, a book about turning to Job for hope after tragedy. If you have experienced life challenges or personal tragedy, visit his Transforming Tragedy (gordongrose.com) blog to learn more. TragedyTransformed.com provides a sample of Gordon's speaking as well as an opportunity to purchase copies of his book.
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2 Responses to Suicide Among our Military and Job’s Survival II

  1. Patti Russell says:
    July 27, 2012 at 9:05 am

    Useful information. If this blog is characteristic of your book. I’d like to read it.

    • Gordon Grose says:
      July 27, 2012 at 10:14 am

      Hi Patti,
      I’m glad you came across my blog at gordongrose.com Thanks for your interest. Although it is based on Job’s recovery, my book is full of stories of people today. I’m still looking for a publisher, had lots of rejections. After each one, however, my writing gets 100% better. Next month I attend a major writers conference near Salem. I’ll be taking a major workshop with my earliest writing mentor, Cecil Myrphey (90 Minutes in Heaven).
      I just posted yesterday my third blog on doubt. Keep in touch.
      Gordon

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