"But he knoweth the way that I take: when he hath tried me, I shall come forth as gold." Job 23:10
The Weight of Job
Lately, the Book of Job has been heavy on my heart. It’s one
of those books I’ve returned to time and again—not because it’s easy to read,
but because it speaks to the very soul of human suffering and divine
sovereignty. If you’ve ever walked through grief, loss, injury, or pain
that defied understanding, you may already know why Job’s story stands out.
Job wasn’t just a man who suffered; he was a man who
remained steadfast in the midst of unimaginable sorrow. He lost his wealth, his
children, his health, and the support of those closest to him. And in the
middle of it all, he poured out his heart to God—not with polished prayers,
but with raw, unfiltered questions. It was not rebellion, but relationship.
He was hurting, and he took that pain straight to the Lord.
The Lesson of True Friendship
Of all the many lessons we can learn from the Book of Job,
perhaps one of the most overlooked is this: what does it mean to be a true
friend? Job's friends started well. They sat in silence with him for seven
days, which shows that sometimes the ministry of presence is more powerful
than words. But when they finally spoke, they failed him. Instead of
offering grace, they offered judgment. Instead of holding him up, they tore him
down.
We must learn from their mistake.
When someone is suffering, they don’t need our theories.
They don’t need us to explain or fix everything. They need us to sit with them,
to pray for them, to love them without condition. Sometimes just being
present is the most Christ-like thing we can do.
And while Job’s friends missed the mark, there is a Friend
who never does.
"A man that hath friends must shew himself friendly:
and there is a friend that sticketh closer than a brother." Proverbs
18:24
Jesus is that friend. The one who knows our pain, hears our
cries, and never leaves our side. He doesn’t accuse. He doesn’t abandon. He
walks with us through every fire and carries us when we can’t go another step.
Personal Reflection
I think about my own life when I read Job. I think about the
wreck I survived in 2009, the lasting injuries, and the many struggles since.
There were times when I didn’t know if healing, or even getting out of bed, was
a possibility. There were nights of tears, days of silence, and seasons
where prayer was all I had left. But through it all, I learned something
that Job knew before me: With God, all things are possible.
"Though he slay me, yet will I trust in him."
Job 13:15
That verse isn't just a poetic line—it's a lifeline. It
says, “Even if I don’t understand, I still believe.” It reminds me that faith
is not the absence of pain but the presence of trust. Job knew his Redeemer
lived, even while sitting in ashes.
Witnessing Others' Battles
Recently, I’ve been surrounded by others fighting their own
Job-like battles. One situation in particular has been resting on my heart:
someone I know received a terminal cancer diagnosis. The doctors gave no hope.
The cancer had spread, even into the brain. Hospice was brought in. They chose
to forego aggressive treatment, and I fully understand that choice. Sometimes
the treatments feel worse than the illness itself. The sickness steals your
strength, and the cure can rob your dignity.
Seeing someone face that kind of battle makes you think
deeply about the fragility of life. About how quick it all goes. And
yet, it also reveals what matters most—faith, peace, and the assurance of
eternity.
Refining Fire
Job’s statement, "when he hath tried me, I shall
come forth as gold," has echoed in my soul many times. Fire is
painful. Trials are not easy. But what if this life—full of all its
brokenness—is the furnace that refines us for eternity?
We don’t always get answers in this life. Job didn’t get one
either, not really. God never told him why he suffered, but He reminded him who
He was. And sometimes, that’s enough.
"For I know that my redeemer liveth, and that he
shall stand at the latter day upon the earth." Job 19:25
That kind of faith endures even when the body is breaking
down. It keeps us anchored when the wind blows hard. It tells us we are not
forgotten. That God still knows the way we take—even when we don’t know the
way ourselves.
Hope That Cannot Die
To those going through a season of suffering right
now—whether in body, mind, or spirit—Job’s story is not a tale of defeat. It’s
a testimony of trust. It tells us we can question, we can cry, we can sit in
silence. But we don’t have to lose hope.
Hope is not denial. It’s not pretending everything is fine. Hope
is choosing to believe in God’s goodness even when nothing makes sense. It’s
holding on to the hem of His garment, trusting that one day, healing will
come—whether on this side of eternity or the next.
Job’s life didn’t end in ashes. God restored him. But even
if that restoration had looked different, his faith still would have been
enough. That’s the kind of faith I want. The kind that says:
"Naked came I out of my mother’s womb, and naked
shall I return thither: the Lord gave, and the Lord hath taken away; blessed be
the name of the Lord." Job 1:21
To be tried, to be broken, to be humbled—and still to
bless the name of the Lord. That’s gold. That’s what lasts.
So wherever you are in your own story, know this: God knows
the way you take. Your suffering is not wasted. Your faith is not in vain. And
when this refining is over—you, too, shall come forth as gold.
God Knew Job—and He Knows Us
One of the most remarkable parts of Job’s story is something
Job himself never knew. He didn’t know that it was God who pointed him
out to Satan. That blows my mind every time I think about it. The Lord
said to Satan:
"Hast thou considered my servant Job, that there is
none like him in the earth, a perfect and an upright man, one that feareth God,
and escheweth evil?" Job 1:8
God had confidence in Job's faithfulness. Imagine that. God knew
Job would endure—even when Job didn’t know what was going on behind the scenes.
That speaks volumes about how God sees us when we’re walking through something
we don’t understand.
Sometimes, the trials we face are not because of our
failures, but because of our faithfulness. It’s not punishment—it’s
refinement. It’s not rejection—it’s trust. God trusted Job to endure. And in
that same way, I believe God knows what we can handle, and more importantly,
what He can bring us through.
Faith Beyond Understanding
As I’ve said before, every one of us has our own struggles
and battles to face in life. No one walks through this world unscathed.
But the way we face those trials—that becomes our testimony.
Job did not know God would restore him. He had no guarantee
that things would turn around. Yet, he chose to stay faithful. He chose trust
over bitterness. He chose praise over silence. That’s the kind of determination
that speaks louder than any sermon. That’s a life lived in surrender, not
because of the outcome, but because of who God is.
God saw Job’s faithfulness. And He rewarded it—not because
Job was perfect, but because Job held on.
God Finishes What He Starts
I have to remind myself often: God is not sloppy. He’s not
careless. He’s not forgetful. He is a God of completion. A God of
perfection.
"Being confident of this very thing, that he which
hath begun a good work in you will perform it until the day of Jesus
Christ." Philippians 1:6
He doesn’t do things halfway. He finishes what He starts.
And knowing that gives me peace—peace when life is uncertain, peace when
prayers seem unanswered, peace when the process feels long and painful.
We see this throughout Scripture:
- Noah
didn’t just build a boat—he saw dry land again.
- Joseph
didn’t just suffer in prison—he stood in Pharaoh’s palace.
- David
didn’t just run from Saul—he became king.
- Jesus
didn’t just die—He rose again.
That is the God I serve. One who redeems. One who
restores. One who completes.
He Will Make a Way
There have been so many moments in my own life where I could
not see a way forward. I didn’t understand the next step. I didn’t know how
anything good could come from where I was. But here’s the thing—I didn’t have
to. He did.
"For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are
your ways my ways, saith the Lord." Isaiah 55:8
That’s why I can trust Him. Because when I come to the
end of myself, He is just getting started. When there seems to be no way—He
makes one. He parts seas. He rolls away stones. He opens doors no man
can shut.
I don’t have to know everything. I don’t have to understand
the “why.” I just have to trust the Who.
Final Encouragement
If you're in a season of loss, grief, illness, or
uncertainty—remember Job. Remember that he didn’t have all the answers. He
didn’t even have hope of restoration. But he had trust. And it was enough.
"Though he slay me, yet will I trust in him."
Job 13:15
You may not see the end of the road right now. You may be
tired, discouraged, or overwhelmed. But the God who began a good work in you
will finish it. He is not done. He sees your tears. He knows your name. And He
will bring you forth as gold.
So hold on to Him, because He is holding on to you.
Do you feel like Job, perhaps?
