The Book of Job is very problematic. Many people have said that it is just an allegory or a metaphor for dealing with the problem of pain. Maybe it is, maybe it is not. I am not sure. However, the most relatable part of it  for me (as I have not (thankfully) lost any children or been afflicted with any boils from head to toe,) is Job’s wife kicking him while he is down with her comment

“Why do you maintain your integrity? Curse God and die!” (Job 2:9).

I am sure that Job was not glad he married her! That is the only mention of her in the Book of Job. However, it says at the end of the book that Job had more children. I am hoping that it was not with her, for his sake. According to one website, Augustine labeled her “the devil’s accomplice” and Calvin called her “a diabolical fury” (https://everyonesapostolic.com/the-most-misunderstood-woman-in-the-bible-why-jobs-wife-may-have-gotten-a-bad-rap/).

I am not a marriage counselor but I know it really hurts when the one that you have committed your life to kicks you in the gut. You may want to investigate Goodguystogreatmen.com and listen to Mr. Horsman’s response for what to do in such a situation. There are two more verses in the Bible which remind me of how much a woman can hurt you.

Proverbs 25:24 It is better to live in a corner of the roof Than in a house shared with a contentious woman.

and

Proverbs 27:15 A constant dripping on a day of steady rain And a contentious woman are alike.

When you open your heart to a woman, she can easily hurt you and that sucks. However, we as men need to actively build into our lives and live the fruits of the spirit: love and joy, peace and patience, kindness, and faithfulness, and self-control (Galatians 5:22) and apply them in such situations.

Remember the ironic prayer: Lord, give me patience, and give it to me NOW!!!

Well, most of the time life does not work like that.

In the film, Evan Almighty, God (played by Morgan Freeman) tells Evan’s wife that when someone asks Him for the chance to have a closer family, God gives them opportunities to BE closer. He does not just give them warm, fuzzy feelings. Likewise, the fruits of the Spirit do not always instantly appear. Instead,  we are given opportunities to BE more loving, patient, kind, faithful, good, and to utilize self-control. We need to flex those muscles! Sometimes they might magically appear, but usually they need to be cultivated, pruned, and harvested. Oftentimes, supernatural help is needed but the Lord is ready to give that help (Matthew 7:7). We are not meant to grow it on our own strength!

Likewise, in this situation, Job was given the opportunity to respond in one of many different ways. What did he do? We don’t know. Hopefully, he responded with the fruits of the Spirit.

Now I am not justifying Job’s wife’s comment or behavior. And I am not telling you that you should or should not get married or get a new wife (I am not a marriage counselor). I am saying that no matter who kicks you when you are down, you should see it for what it is and live the life of faith and let the fruits bloom.

Proverbs 12:4 4 A wife of noble character is her husband’s crown, but a disgraceful wife is like decay in his bones.

——————————————————W.