For the thing which I greatly feared is come upon me, and that which I was afraid of is come unto me.
The verse belongs to the account of Job's trial and despair, when the calamity he had dreaded has fallen upon him. It stands in the book that takes up the great problems that have perplexed humanity through all ages, of overruling providence and of sin and suffering. It comes while God is disciplining Job and bringing him through the fire of affliction, while his three friends charge him with sin and declare his sufferings are because of sin, showing how humanity misjudges its fellows in the same way. It is part of the account of Job's heart being deeply discomposed by trouble, showing that even a patient person can be greatly shaken by affliction.
What is greatly feared comes upon the one who fears it, with fear helping to bring about the very trouble that is dreaded. Fear breeds disease, undermining health and slowing recovery. Worry over pain in a small joint looks forward to it spreading from joint to joint until every joint is stiff and hopeless invalidism comes, and that fear works against healing. In epidemics many are stricken and die who would live were it not for fear, dying because they expect to die. Persistent fear of food, of cold, of disease, or of death can worsen physical illness and may even help bring the feared harm about. Turning a blessing over to find the dark side feared in it worries away all enjoyment until the blessing that might have been had is lost, while ceasing to hunt for the dark side can spare the pain of seeing it even where one exists. Accepting blessings with thankful hearts brings the presence of good angels, who help turn trouble into blessings.
The verse belongs to the account of Job's trial and despair, when the calamity he had dreaded has fallen upon him. It stands in the book that takes up the great problems that have perplexed humanity through all ages, of overruling providence and of sin and suffering. It comes while God is disciplining Job and bringing him through the fire of affliction, while his three friends charge him with sin and declare his sufferings are because of sin, showing how humanity misjudges its fellows in the same way. It is part of the account of Job's heart being deeply discomposed by trouble, showing that even a patient person can be greatly shaken by affliction.
What is greatly feared comes upon the one who fears it, with fear helping to bring about the very trouble that is dreaded. Fear breeds disease, undermining health and slowing recovery. Worry over pain in a small joint looks forward to it spreading from joint to joint until every joint is stiff and hopeless invalidism comes, and that fear works against healing. In epidemics many are stricken and die who would live were it not for fear, dying because they expect to die. Persistent fear of food, of cold, of disease, or of death can worsen physical illness and may even help bring the feared harm about. Turning a blessing over to find the dark side feared in it worries away all enjoyment until the blessing that might have been had is lost, while ceasing to hunt for the dark side can spare the pain of seeing it even where one exists. Accepting blessings with thankful hearts brings the presence of good angels, who help turn trouble into blessings.