DON'T JUDGE JOB'S WIFE

The story of Job's wife is a familiar one to many of us who have grown up in the Christian tradition. We know her as the woman who urged, her husband, Job, to curse God and die, a negative figure who serves as a cautionary tale for readers. But what if I told you that there is more to Job's wife than meets the eye? What if I told you that I, too, have experienced some of the same struggles and challenges that she faced? What if I told you that I have cursed God while in my time of suffering? My name is Tanya Cormier, and I am Bryce's wife. Like Job's wife, I have faced trials and tribulations that have tested my faith and my relationship with God. Like Job's wife, I have been judged and criticized for my reactions and responses to these challenges by those who only saw a small portion of the story. And like Job's wife, I have had to grapple with the question of why God allowed such suffering in my life and the lives of our children. In this book, "Don't Judge Job's Wife," I hope to share with you my personal journey of pain, suffering, and confusion and how the story of Job's wife has helped me to understand her and so many other women who have walked this path. I will also explore Job's wife as who I feel she really was, looking beyond the surface-level criticisms of her character to discover the strengths and positive qualities that she possessed. By looking past what I feel we have been taught in our churches by well-meaning pastors, we will discover a woman who was resilient, loyal, and loving. We will see her as a symbol of strength and courage, rather than a warning of what not to do. I am not a theologian. I am simply a woman who empathizes with another woman's suffering, and I feel compelled to stand up for her, knowing she cannot defend herself. I must confess that I was also among those who misunderstood and unfairly judged this woman. However, this is my sincere effort to rectify any misconceptions and set the record straight. Ultimately by sharing my personal story and reflecting on the story of Job's wife, I hope to encourage readers to see her in a new light and to give them permission to allow themselves to be authentic about what they feel in their own struggles-even if they are Christians. Whether you are facing a season of grief, loss, confusion or uncertainty, my hope is that this book will help you to discover the strength that you don't know you have that can be found in the midst of suffering; compassion you don't know you lack as it concerns others' reactions to their suffering and the glory that comes "after this"… Don't Judge Job's Wife.