At the beginning of Job’s time of suffering, the Scriptures say, “In all this Job sinned not nor charged God foolishly.” However, as the days of Job’s testing continued, his three “comforting friends” only generated more upset and discomfort, and Job fell into the abyss of self-pity. The dictionary defines self-pity as the “self-indulgent belief that one’s life is harder and sadder than everyone else’s.”

Pitying ourselves is counterproductive to spiritual and emotional growth. As we wallow in this state, we tell ourselves that life isn’t fair, that we’ve got it hard while others have it easy, that bad always happens to us, and so on. This attitude shuts out the truth that God loves us and has the ability to bring good out of our hard times; by transforming our lives for the better. Self-pity often covers anger and keeps us from first recognizing, and secondly participating in the grace work of letting go of our pushed down wrath. Holding on to these negative emotions will propel us into hopelessness and depression.

Later on in Job’s testing, he was able to hear God, put down his self-pity, and grasp the truth of God’s plan for his life. Let us recognize that self-pity is our spiritual and emotional enemy, close the door on it , and turn away when this formable foe comes knocking at our heart’s door.

“So am I allotted months of futile [suffering], and [long] nights of misery are appointed to me” (Job 7:3).