What do we Do When We Suffer

Wisdom for the Age / Job 19:23–27

Job 1:9–12 ESV

Then Satan answered the Lord and said, “Does Job fear God for no reason? Have you not put a hedge around him and his house and all that he has, on every side? You have blessed the work of his hands, and his possessions have increased in the land. But stretch out your hand and touch all that he has, and he will curse you to your face.” And the Lord said to Satan, “Behold, all that he has is in your hand. Only against him do not stretch out your hand.” So Satan went out from the presence of the Lord.

We can’t nor are we supposed to solve suffering in Job. We are just supposed to answer what’s bigger and what lasts longer. And we will look at that at the way, but we first have to see how we approach suffering that threatens to swallow us whole.

We Look for an explanation in the uncontrollability of suffering

Job 6:28–30 ESV

“But now, be pleased to look at me,

for I will not lie to your face.

Please turn; let no injustice be done.

Turn now; my vindication is at stake.

Is there any injustice on my tongue?

Cannot my palate discern the cause of calamity?

Job 23:3–4 ESV

Oh, that I knew where I might find him,

that I might come even to his seat!

I would lay my case before him

and fill my mouth with arguments.

Have you ever wanted to look God in the face and ask Him, why? Have you ever had to look at a friend or a relative and ask them, why? How could this happen? Why did this happen?

This is how we navigate not being swallowed up in suffering. Job accepts his loss but does not accept the reason for it. This is why he pursues some kind of answer from God, experiencing loss and suffering but not resigning to why it has happened.

We look for Alleviation

Job 16:18–22 ESV

“O earth, cover not my blood,

and let my cry find no resting place.

Even now, behold, my witness is in heaven,

and he who testifies for me is on high.

My friends scorn me;

my eye pours out tears to God,

that he would argue the case of a man with God,

as a son of man does with his neighbor.

For when a few years have come

I shall go the way from which I shall not return.

Job 19:25 ESV

For I know that my Redeemer lives,

and at the last he will stand upon the earth.

The God who comes close is the God who suffers

This is what we know to be true about Christ. He has been where we are. He knows what it is like to suffer and to struggle. He knows what it is like for the people closest to him to run from Him. He knows anxiety and dark nights. Look at the prayer of Gesthemene.

1 Peter 2:24–25 ESV

He himself bore our sins in his body on the tree, that we might die to sin and live to righteousness. By his wounds you have been healed. For you were straying like sheep, but have now returned to the Shepherd and Overseer of your souls.

Walk with the God who walks with you

suffering threatens to swallow us whole. And the whole mess is foggy and hard to see. You need someone close, someone who can know the way. Christ because He has suffered, knows the way.