By Nancy Virden (c)2026

He is globally famous. His story is repeated and studied among people of all ages worldwide. This man’s trauma and recovery are a reference point for anyone whose own experience is troubling.

Job (pronounced jobe in English) had it all – a wife, ten children, enormous financial success, and the admiration of everyone in his city and beyond. His fairness as a judge and wisdom as a counselor earned him a solid reputation. People from far and near sought him out. Benevolent giving was his regular practice. Job was a good and powerful man who was blameless—a man of complete integrity. He feared God and stayed away from evil. 

In one day, he lost everything.

Thieves stole all the farm animals and killed all the farmhands. Fire burned up Job’s sheep and all the shepherds. Raiders stole the camels and killed their handlers. In only two minutes, Job learned that his livelihood and riches were gone. He may, in fact, have landed deep in debt.

As he reeled in shock, the worst news of all arrived. All ten of his sons and daughters had been killed in a building collapse. Talk about trauma!

In shattered grief, it seemed that nothing else could go wrong. But stigma and physical pain compounded his suffering as he broke out in boils from head to foot. People assumed he was being punished by God and treated him with disdain. Adolescents spit at him. No one wanted his advice; he was the subject of gossip and the shaking of heads.

The helper now needed help. His wife, in her own trauma, couldn’t support him. She said, “Are you still trying to maintain your integrity? Curse God and die.”

But Job replied, “Should we accept only good things from the hand of God and never anything bad?”

Three of Job’s distant friends heard of the tragedies. They got together and traveled from their homes to comfort and console him. When they saw Job from a distance, they scarcely recognized him. Wailing loudly (validation and empathy), they showed their grief. Then they sat on the ground with Job for seven days and nights (presence, compassion). No one said a word to Job, for they saw that his suffering was too great for words.

This was emotional support as it should be. No one needs our solutions or judgments when in deep sorrow and shock. Silence can be comforting too. Unfortunately, these friends could not hold their tongues after a week. We’ll look at their mistakes and Job’s trauma response in Part 2.

-COMMENTS WELCOME

Today’s Helpful Word

Job 1: 21-22

“I came naked from my mother’s womb,
    and I will be naked when I leave.
The Lord gave me what I had,
    and the Lord has taken it away.
Praise the name of the Lord!”

 In all of this, Job did not sin by blaming God.

If you are feeling suicidal or concerned about someone who is, in the U.S., call 988, the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline. For a list of international suicide hotlines, go here.

If you are suicidal with a plan, immediately call 911 in the U.S. or go to your nearest emergency room; in the EU, call 112. (For other international emergency numbers, go here.) Hope and help are yours!

Always the Fight Ministries (ATFM) has been displaying compassion for those fighting mental illness, addiction, or abuse since 2012. Nancy is the founder and voice of ATFM and openly shares her emotional resurrection from despair. 

NOTE: Nancy is not a doctor or a mental health professional and speaks only from personal experience and observations. This website is not intended to substitute for professional mental or behavioral health care.

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