The story of why ∙∙
You will know the truth, and the truth will set you free. – John 8:32
To God belong wisdom and power; counsel and understanding are his. – Job 12:13
James 1:2-5
2 When troubles come your way, consider it an opportunity for great joy.
3 For you know that when your faith is tested, your endurance has a chance to grow.
4 So let it grow, for when your endurance is fully developed, you will be perfect and complete, needing nothing.
5 If you need wisdom, ask our generous God, and he will give it to you. He will not rebuke you for asking
Why Do We Suffer?
How many times have we experienced hardship, difficulty, tragedy, or unmet expectations and then asked WHY? The Scriptures rarely provide a direct answer to this question. Instead, they guide us on how to endure suffering with faith and the proper response to our Father in heaven.
However, there is an entire book of the Bible that was written to address the question of “why?”. It investigates why people suffer, how they learn from suffering, and what is happening behind it. You have probably guessed which book of the Bible it is: the Book of Job.
The Book of Job offers profound insight into the nature of suffering, the lessons it teaches, and the unseen spiritual realities that lie behind it.
The Depth of Job’s Loss
Job’s suffering and loss were horrendous and almost unimaginable. In the material world, he lost virtually everything of value:
- His Children: All of his beloved children were taken from him.
- His Possessions: His wealth and property were destroyed.
- His Livelihood: His means of providing for himself and his family was gone.
If you have your health, you have everything, right? Well, Job soon lost his health too.
What remained?
- A few “helpful” friends who offered confusing and useless advice, devoid of godly wisdom.
- A distraught, grieving wife who, in her own pain, became a source of discouragement.
- His faith was tested to its very core.
Job’s Initial Response
Despite his overwhelming grief, Job’s initial response was remarkable. He demonstrated unwavering faith: Job 12:9-10: “The hand of the LORD has done this, in whose hand is the life of every living thing, and the breath of all mankind.”
His following response echoes down the millennia Job 13:15, “Though He slay me, I will trust Him.”
His faith was systematically tested. He was almost crushed. Job’s words reveal a man caught in the tension between trust and fear. He mourned deeply, consumed by grief, yet as a man of faith, he clung to his confidence and trust in the Father.
If we were there, I am convinced we would hear him weeping, if not wailing. He was mourning and consumed with grief.
He is trapped in the twilight zone between trust and fear. His thoughts reverberated again and again, WHY, WHY, WHY?
The Backstory: What Job Didn’t Know
If we began reading Job’s story in Job 1:13, where his suffering begins, we would have no idea what was happening behind the scenes. Job himself did not know about the events described in Job 1:1-12, where the Father allows Satan to test Job’s faith. He had no idea what was going on. He had no idea what the cause of his trials was. He had done nothing wrong. Yet tragedy after tragedy befell him.
Job’s trials were not a result of wrongdoing but of his righteousness. The Father had confidence in Job’s faith and allowed him to be tested to demonstrate the depth of his trust.
Does This Make Sense?
From a human perspective, it may seem illogical that Job’s suffering was a result of his goodness. But in the Father’s kingdom, suffering often serves a greater purpose, refining faith, revealing God’s glory, and deepening trust.
Lessons from Job’s Suffering
So often, we ask the wrong question, “Why?” when we face trials. But even if we knew the answer, it would not change the reality of our situation. The better question is: “How should I respond?”
Job’s story teaches us that, in the end, we must trust the Father’s wisdom and goodness, even when we don’t understand His plans.
Job 42:2-3: “I know that You can do anything, and no one can stop You. You asked, ‘Who is this that questions My wisdom with such ignorance?’ It is I, and I was talking about things I knew nothing about, things far too wonderful for me.”
REFLECT & PRAY
So often, we ask why. It is a perspective transformation when we realize that even if we knew why, it would change nothing. We would still have to trust the Father no matter what. We would have to take it by faith that He has our best interests at heart.
Father, there have been many times when I have asked, “Why?” in the face of suffering. Help me to trust You, even when I don’t understand. Teach me to respond with faith and endurance, knowing that You have my best interests at heart. May I echo Job’s words: “Though You slay me, yet I will trust You.”
INSIGHT
The Rest of the Story
Job 1:6-12 provides a rare glimpse into the spiritual realm, where the Father and Satan engage in a conversation that sets the stage for Job’s trials: Job 1:6-8: “One day the members of the heavenly court came to present themselves before the LORD, and the Accuser, Satan, came with them. ‘Where have you come from?’ the LORD asked Satan. Satan answered the LORD, ‘I have been patrolling the earth, watching everything that’s going on.’ Then the LORD asked Satan, ‘Have you noticed my servant Job? He is the finest man in all the earth. He is blameless, a man of complete integrity. He fears God and stays away from evil.’”
Satan’s Challenge
Satan, the Accuser, questions Job’s motives for righteousness, claiming that Job’s faithfulness is only due to the Father’s blessings and protection: Job 1:9-11: “Yes, but Job has good reason to fear God. You have always put a wall of protection around him, his home, and his property. You have made him prosper in everything he does. Look how rich he is! But reach out and take away everything he has, and he will surely curse you to your face!”
The Father’s Permission
In response, the Father allows Satan to test Job, but with limits: Job 1:12 “All right, you may test him,” the LORD said to Satan. “Do whatever you want with everything he possesses, but don’t harm him physically.”
Job’s trials begin not because of wrongdoing but because of his righteousness. He is guilty of nothing but faithfulness, yet he is pushed to the very limits of human endurance.
The Father Intervenes
In the midst of Job’s suffering, the Father personally intervenes and speaks to him one-on-one. However, instead of answering Job’s questions, the Father asks His own.
Job 38-41 is filled with questions that reveal the vastness of God’s wisdom and the limitations of human understanding. The Father reminds Job of His creative genius and sovereign control over all creation.
Job’s Realization
Through this encounter, Job gains a deeper understanding of the Father’s greatness:
- The Father knows what He is doing.
- He has a purpose for everything, even if it is beyond human comprehension.
- His wisdom and power are unmatched.
Why Do We Suffer?
Suffering as Part of God’s Plan. The story of Job teaches us that suffering is not always a punishment or a sign of failure. Instead, it is often part of the Father’s plan for our lives. Rather than asking “Why?”, we should ask: “What would You have me learn from this, Father? How can I draw closer to You through this experience?”
Turning to the Father
In painful and distressing circumstances, the best response is to turn to the Father for wisdom, strength, and guidance. As Peter said: John 6:68, “Lord, to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life.”
Stanley asserts, Either God is worth trusting completely, or He is not worth trusting at all.
Job’s Final Response: Humility, Faith, and Repentance
After his encounter with the Father, Job reaches a place of total faith and confidence. He realizes that knowing why changes nothing. Instead, he humbles himself before the Father and repents.
Job 42:5-6: “I have heard of You by the hearing of the ear, but now my eye sees You. Therefore, I retract, and I repent in dust and ashes.”
Job’s journey ends where it began, with faith in the Father. His suffering deepened his understanding of God’s greatness and strengthened his trust in Him.
Lessons from Job’s Story
Rather than living through Job’s struggles, we can learn from his story and apply its lessons to our own lives:
- Trust in the Father’s Sovereignty: Even when we don’t understand His plans, we can trust that He is in control.
- Seek Growth Through Suffering: Ask what the Father wants to teach you through your trials.
- Humble Yourself Before God: Recognize His greatness and submit to His will.
Take Baby Steps of Faith
Developing great faith and confidence in the Father doesn’t happen overnight. Start now by taking small steps of trust and obedience. Job’s story reminds us that suffering is not meaningless. It is part of the Father’s plan to refine our faith, deepen our trust, and draw us closer to Him.
While we may never fully understand the reasons behind our trials, we can rest in the assurance that the Father is sovereign, wise, and good. Like Job, may we learn to trust Him completely, knowing that He is always working for our good and His glory.
James 1:2-3: “When troubles come your way, consider it an opportunity for great joy. For you know that when your faith is tested, your endurance has a chance to grow.”
May we, like Job, learn to trust the Father in all circumstances, knowing that His plans are good and His purposes are perfect. Even in the darkest moments, He is working for our good and His glory.
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© Dr. H 2025
Dr H Reflections 