What is my end, that I should endure?

Tiger Woods hobbled his way to his 14th major championship at the 2008 U.S. Open with a playoff win over Rocco Mediate. "It was a long week—a lot of doubt, a lot of questions going into the week—and here we are, 91 holes later," he said. Two days after the tournament it was discovered that Woods had a torn ACL and a double stress fracture in his tibia. His season was over.

Do you ever wonder what makes a person endure severe pain in a situation like this? I mean, no one would have faulted the guy for withdrawing. But for him, it just didn't appear to be an option. "The atmosphere is what kept me going," Woods said. "The tournament, being a major championship here at Torrey Pines, all the people...I couldn't ever quit in front of these people."

Job was a man who encountered some very intense emotional and physical pain. It is recorded in the book of the Bible that bears his name. After losing all 10 of his children and all that he possessed, and being stricken with painful sores all over his body, Job was surrounded by three friends who came “to sympathize with him and comfort him" (Job 2:11). Once the words started flowing, following a week of silence, Job received little sympathy or comfort from his friends.

When all seemed hopeless, he posed an interesting question: "And what is my end, that I should endure?" (6:11) Job didn't know the cause of his pain and suffering, and he didn't know how things were going to turn out. But in the end he put trust in God alone and surrendered to His plan.

There are two lessons I’ve learned for dealing with painful circumstances:
1. We must surround ourselves with people who will build us up and help us persevere.
2. The "end" to which we must endure is a deeper relationship with Almighty God as we learn to completely trust in His plan.