Thank you for your response, sister.
Perhaps what most stands out for Job's wife is what she stated to Job at the most direly excruciating time of his suffering.
What was it she said?
"Curse God and die."
Not exactly an encouraging spouse, although she may have changed. Nothing tells us she died or that Job took another wife. So she may have bore Job's next ten children. Job lived at a time when people still had long lifespans.
When Job's wife was speaking thus, he needed to rely on his relationship with God alone, not his wife for encouragement (nor his friends). It doesn't mean she stayed in that bad place, but sometimes God is literally the only person we can rely on. David experienced this, too, when his band of men talked of stoning him in their grief (1 Samuel 30:6). Elijah felt he was the only one who remained faithful to God (1 Kings 19:14). Paul was very alone near the end of his life (2 Timothy 4:9-16).
Jesus said he (she) who loves father, mother, wife (husband), child, possessions, his own life more than Christ is not worthy of Him.
Matthew 10:34-39
34 “Do not think that I came to bring peace on earth. I did not come to bring peace but a sword. 35 For I have come to ‘set a man against his father, a daughter against her mother, and a daughter-in-law against her mother-in-law’; 36 and ‘a man’s enemies will be those of his own household.’ 37 He who loves father or mother more than Me is not worthy of Me. And he who loves son or daughter more than Me is not worthy of Me. 38 And he who does not take his cross and follow after Me is not worthy of Me. 39 He who finds his life will lose it, and he who loses his life for My sake will find it.
Luke 14:26-27
26 “If anyone comes to Me and does not hate his father and mother, wife and children, brothers and sisters, yes, and his own life also, he cannot be My disciple. 27 And whoever does not bear his cross and come after Me cannot be My disciple.
Luke 12:52-53
51 Do you suppose that I came to give peace on earth? I tell you, not at all, but rather division. 52 For from now on five in one house will be divided: three against two, and two against three. 53 Father will be divided against son and son against father, mother against daughter and daughter against mother, mother-in-law against her daughter-in-law and daughter-in-law against her mother-in-law.”
Dedication to God will be tested in the Tribulation when family members will put each other to death for keeping their faith.
Micah 7:5-6
5 Do not trust in a friend;
Do not put your confidence in a companion;
Guard the doors of your mouth
From her who lies in your bosom.
6 For son dishonors father,
Daughter rises against her mother,
Daughter-in-law against her mother-in-law;
A man’s enemies are the men of his own household.
Matthew 10:21
21 “Now brother will deliver up brother to death, and a father his child; and children will rise up against parents and cause them to be put to death.
Luke 21:16
16 You will be betrayed even by parents and brothers, relatives and friends; and they will put some of you to death.
Mark 13:12
12 Now brother will betray brother to death, and a father his child; and children will rise up against parents and cause them to be put to death.
I think it is critical to prepare ourselves now to give up everything, if need be--even our own lives--for the sake of Christ. Also, to prepare ourselves to remain strong in our faith even if our family members turn away from Him.
P.S. Muslim background believers are often tested in the family area from the start, since sometimes their family members will kill or otherwise persecute them for following Christ. Their stories are a great encouragement to me. I recommend
More Than Dreams (a film online at
www.morethandreams.org),
Dreams and Visions (Tom Doyle) and
I Am N (a book by Voice of the Martyrs).
