Where is God When Life Hurts?
Lessons from the Book of Job
At St Julian Anglican Training Centre, we study the book of Job not just to understand suffering—but to teach how faith endures in silence, mystery, and pain. Job is not a book that explains suffering—it shows us how to respond faithfully when answers don’t come.
1. God Is Sovereign—Even in Silence
When Job loses everything, God does not rush in with explanations. For 37 chapters, Job waits. The silence is uncomfortable, yet deeply theological. It reminds us that God’s presence is not always loud—but He is never absent.
As church leaders, we must learn to walk with people through the silence, not just speak at them.
2. Suffering Is Not Always Because of Sin
Job’s friends were wrong. They assumed his pain meant he was guilty. But Job’s story shows us that suffering may be a test of faith, not a sign of failure. This is crucial in pastoral care—we are called to listen before we accuse, and to walk with people in grace.
3. Honest Faith Is Still Faith
Job questioned. He cried. He doubted. And still, he was considered faithful. In our discipleship model at St Julian, we teach that real faith includes wrestling with God. God welcomes our questions—but asks us to trust His heart, even when we can’t trace His hand.
4. God Speaks Out of the Storm
When God finally responds, it’s not with theology textbooks—but a whirlwind. His answer is not “why,” but “Who.”
“Where were you when I laid the foundation of the earth?” — Job 38:4
Sometimes the answer to our pain is not found in logic but in the glory and presence of God Himself.
5. Restoration Is Not Always Immediate—but It Is Certain
Job’s restoration came after worship, repentance, and intercession. It reminds us that God does heal, restore, and redeem, but often through a journey. And restoration is not always material—it’s spiritual.
Conclusion
Job teaches us that God is trustworthy, even when life is not explainable. Faithfulness doesn’t mean having all the answers. It means clinging to the One who does.
“Though He slay me, yet will I hope in Him.” — Job 13:15
