Job: The Suffering

Job 2:13 (NIVUK)

Then they sat on the ground with him for seven days and seven nights. No-one said a word to him, because they saw how great his suffering was.

Let’s be honest, sometimes the 'in between' can be really tough. It can be full of suffering and a good example of that is to look at the story of Job. 

Job was afflicted in horrendous ways, yet still trusted in God. Job lost his children, his wealth and his health, and we never really come to a conclusion as to why Job had to endure so much. Perhaps we can relate to his suffering story in our own lives or the lives of others. Waiting through suffering is hard, yet Job is someone we can look to as he believed and trusted in God through it all. Job was honest in his affliction, but he would not stop trusting in God.

It is our human response to cry out for answers. Job’s wife saw all that her husband endured, as well as losing her children. Yet, Job remained faithful to God despite the unhelpful comments made by both family and friends. One thing that struck me in Job's story was his friends. Initially, his friends acted well. They came to Job, wept with him and sat with him. But then we see how his friends became unhelpful, giving long speeches that were untruthful and questioning. 

The reality is that suffering will happen. We will have 'in-between' moments where we will experience loss and hardship, and life feels out of control. And we can see from Job's story how friends can be both helpful and unhelpful. So, choose friends wisely. Choose friends that come to you, weep with you, sit with you but also friends that point you to God, reminding you to trust God and repeating God's promises.

Prayer - Father God, please surround us with wise and godly friends, ones that point to you when our 'in-between' moments contain suffering.