Job
“What is it about that man? He is always blessing the Lord.” The two men walked in silence for a long time. Finally, the older turned to the younger and said, “Can you believe him? After all he’s lost? What’s wrong with him?”
The younger man stared at the ground, his sandals scuffing the dirt. He shook his head and gave a nervous cough. “I don’t get it. I really don’t. After losing everything, you’d think he’d be bitter. Just yesterday, I spoke with his wife. She said watching him suffer is unbearable. She even told him he should just give up and die, because she couldn’t stand to see him like this any longer (Job 2:9). And you know what he told her? ‘The Lord gave, and the Lord has taken away; blessed be the name of the Lord’ (Job 1:21). Who talks like that?”
“I know.” The older man stopped and dropped to the ground, his whole body trembling. Tears ran down his face. “I wouldn’t have recognized him if it hadn’t been for his voice. You didn’t know him when he was young, but I did. He was the most handsome man in the village. We all thought he was destined for greatness. But this? None of us were prepared for this. His body is twisted with sores, ruined by disease, unrecognizable. This morning, when I saw him, it was worse than ever. He looks like a monster… like a demon. I could hardly bear to look. And sometimes I think his wife is right—he can’t go on like this. It would be better if he just died.”
Day after day they went to see their friend. Sometimes two came, sometimes three, sometimes only one. Often they sat in silence, because no one knew what to say (Job 2:11–13).
At last, Eliphaz, the oldest, spoke. “Listen, Job. These things don’t happen by accident. Suffering like yours is a sign that something’s wrong. Don’t you think it’s time to confess? To admit your fault? You and I both know—we’ve counseled others—that when hidden sin festers, it eventually destroys everything. Look at yourself! Can’t you see this is the fruit of your sin? Throw yourself on God’s mercy and beg Him for forgiveness before something worse happens.”
Exhausted, Eliphaz slumped to the ground, his words hanging in the heavy air.
Job glared at his friend. “How dare you speak to me like that? You’ve known me your whole life. At least you, Eliphaz—I thought you knew me better. Do you think I don’t understand that God could crush me in an instant? Do you think I don’t know His power? But I have not sinned. And yet evil has come upon me. I didn’t ask you to come here and accuse me. I thought you were my friends. You think I want to be like this? If this is your comfort, then go home and leave me to suffer alone.”
And so the debates went on. They argued and questioned: Was this God’s will? Was Job guilty? Why do the righteous suffer? No one could make sense of it.
But Job held to one truth:
“Though He slay me, yet will I trust Him” (Job 13:15).
“The Lord gave, and the Lord has taken away; blessed be the name of the Lord” (Job 1:21).
That was Job’s testimony. He refused to curse God and die (Job 2:9–10). He chose to believe that God’s love remained even when life made no sense.
And in time, Job began to heal. God restored him, blessing the latter part of his life more than the beginning (Job 42:10–12). He regained everything he had lost—and more—because he would not let go of his integrity, and he would not turn his back on God.
Friends, when we suffer, it is not always our fault. Sometimes life simply happens. But through it all, God is still God. He is still working all things together for good to those who love Him and are called according to His purpose (Romans 8:28).
So believe for restoration. Believe that God is bringing you through to a new level. Hold fast to Him, and you will see the sun shine on your life again.