The story of Job challenges the idea that good things happen to good people and bad things happen to bad people. It also challenges the understanding of a transactional relationship with God where we believe blessings and happiness are given as payment for good behavior. Instead, Job’s story gets to the heart of how we respond when we face difficulties in life.
It is a story in which God trusts Job to remain faithful no matter how tough things get, no matter how angry he gets, and no matter how alone he feels in his suffering. For Job, persisting in his integrity involves taking the good along with the bad, but that is not to say that he doesn’t speak out against the injustice of his plight. It seems a mistake we sometimes make is thinking that we must meekly accept everything that comes our way. That is not the example of Job. He pushes back against the blame his friends try to place upon him. He refuses to curse God, but he isn’t afraid to call God out.
Think of a situation in which there was no explanation – when there seemed to be no answer to the question, “Why?” How did you make sense of it for yourself? Who were the people who helped bring healing and who were the people who made it more difficult? Was your relationship with God threatened in this situation or was it strengthened?
Today, offer this simple prayer: “God of Creation, sometimes there are no answers. Help me to trust you anyway.”