Suffering: A Study in JobSample

What does it say?

No matter what happened to Job, God was just, fair, and right in all He did.

What does it mean?

Job’s three friends seemed to give up on his admitting to some grave sin. Meanwhile, Elihu, a young bystander, decided to convey his perspective on Job’s situation and his friends’ advice. He found holes in both sides' arguments: Job blamed God, while the friends found Job guilty without evidence. There are different opinions about whether Elihu was arrogant or had great insight for his age. Either way, he defended the character of God in the Lord’s silence. Elihu correctly argued that God could never act wickedly, pervert justice, or show partiality.

How should I respond?

We’ll never have all of the answers during life’s most difficult moments. But what do you do when God seems completely silent or inactive? Focus on His character traits while you’re waiting for Him to act. For instance, knowing that He is just will guard from saying, “It’s not fair” or “Why me?” What other attributes of God have you seen in Scripture? How do they relate to your current circumstances? What unanswered questions do you have today? Turn them over to your Lord and rest knowing that He is just. Wait on the Lord (Psalm 27:14); He sees what you are going through.