Blessed be the name of the LORD

The words are easy to read and quote while being difficult all at the same time. I’m referring to what Job said after unimaginable loss and pain: “Blessed be the name of the LORD.”  Job 1:20-22. The NIV says, “May the name of the LORD be praised.” The Psalmist echoed this point when he said, “I call upon the LORD, who is worthy to be praised, and I am saved from my enemies.” 

Is it possible for us to say, “Blessed be the name of the LORD” in our suffering? Yes. This doesn’t negate the pain we experience, or even try to explain the pain away, or ignore what we feel. Job was in great agony when he uttered those words. How is it we can say these words and even worship as Job continued to do so? Job’s story is about his faith, but more importantly it’s about God and His faithfulness, James 5:11. In Job’s suffering, we see how God worked. James describes it as “The Dealings of the Lord (or the outcome the Lord brought about).”

How God dealt with Job reveals His mercy and compassion. This is how we can say, “Blessed be the name of the LORD.”  Make no mistake, the blessings and loss Job experienced were massive, Job 1:13-22. The fog of suffering he experienced was intense, Job 3:1, 11. Yet his trust remained, Job 13:10, 15; 16:19-21; 19:25. God brought restoration, Job 42:10-17, 12.

As we sit with grief, the goal is not to ignore what we feel, but how to remain faithful through it all. We do so by considering the dealings of the Lord. We do it by going back to what we know to be true.

We know the love of God to be true when we look to the cross. We know God’s mercy and grace because He sent His Son to die on the cross, Titus 2:11-14. We know that our great Redeemer lives, 1 John 2:1-2. The cross is reason for us to praise God even as we sit in the grief.

We know Jesus has risen from the dead and the tomb is empty!  A glimpse inside the tomb reveals God’s mercy, grace, and faithfulness, Matthew 28:1-7. A look inside the tomb teaches us that death does not get the final say.  A look inside the tomb of Jesus gives us the proper perspective as we navigate this GAP, we find ourselves in. This GAP is the victory Jesus has through His resurrection and what we have obtained through Him, and His second appearing. He reigns in heaven victorious, yet we still grieve and hurt in this life. His resurrection provides us with a sneak preview of what’s to come, 1 Corinthians 15:20. One day we too will be raised from the dead, John 5:28-29. One day we will put on immortality, 1 Corinthians 15:50-55.

The ultimate restoration will take place on that final day. All wrongs will be made right. All tears will be wiped away. All sorrow for those in Christ will be gone. This is the comfort Christians can have during this GAP moment we find ourselves in now. This is why even in the pain of sorrow we can utter, “Blessed be the name of the LORD.” The pain, the suffering, and even death is not the end of our stories.