Seeing God in Suffering
Finding Hope in Suffering: Lessons from Job 42
The tragic assassination of Charlie Kirk has left many of us with heavy hearts and difficult questions. How do we make sense of such senseless violence? Where is God when His faithful servants suffer? These questions aren’t new – they’re the same ones Job wrestled with thousands of years ago.
Job’s story offers us profound wisdom for processing suffering. After losing his wealth, his children, his health, and his reputation, Job had a life-changing encounter with God. Through his experience, we learn that as believers, we need to view our suffering in light of God. When pain blurs our vision, God remains in the picture, providing the lens through which we must interpret our suffering.
What Does Job 42 Teach Us About God and Suffering?
Job 42:1-6 reveals three essential truths that can anchor us during difficult times:
God Rules in Times of Suffering
“I know that you can do all things and that no purpose of yours can be thwarted.” (Job 42:2)
Job affirms God’s omnipotence – His ability to do whatever, whenever, wherever, and however He wants. Nothing can stop God from accomplishing His purposes. This doesn’t mean God causes evil, but it does mean He remains sovereign even when evil occurs.
When tragedy strikes, we might wonder where God is. The answer is simple: He’s in the same place He’s always been – on His throne. He was on His throne when:
- Adam and Eve rebelled in the garden
- Joseph was unjustly imprisoned
- The Israelites were enslaved for 430 years
- Daniel was thrown into the lion’s den
- John the Baptist was beheaded
- Jesus was crucified
- Stephen was stoned to death
God’s sovereignty assures us that nothing happens by chance or randomness. He allows what happens for reasons sometimes unknown to us, to accomplish His good plans. God rules not just in good times, but in bad times; not just in righteous times, but in evil times; not just in times of contentment, but in times of suffering.
God Understands in Times of Suffering
“Therefore I have declared that which I did not understand, things too wonderful for me which I did not know.” (Job 42:3)
Job came to realize that in his pain, he had spoken foolishly and ignorantly about God’s dealings with him. He admitted, “I now understand that I didn’t understand.” Though his suffering didn’t make sense to him, it made sense to God.
This is like a child working on a connect-the-dots puzzle. At first, the random dots make no sense. Only when they’re connected can you see the bigger picture. Similarly, our suffering often appears as disconnected dots. We can’t see how they fit together, but God does.
Sometimes we may never see the complete picture in this life. God doesn’t owe us an explanation, as the book of Job makes clear. God never explained to Job why he suffered. Job simply came to accept that God knows, and that was enough because he knew God is good, wise, and for him, not against him.
God knows the “why” behind every tragedy. He understands both the “what” and the “why” of suffering and how He intends to use it for our good and His glory. Like Job, we need to humble ourselves and say, “God, teach me. Help me learn what I need to learn about you.”
God Refines in Times of Suffering
“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 42:5-6)
Through his suffering and encounter with God, Job came to know God in a more personal way. His knowledge of God moved to a deeper level. This encounter softened Job’s heart, leading him to retract his prideful statements and repent.
Earlier, Job had declared that God had wronged him (Job 19:6), desired to argue with God (Job 13:3), and wanted to present his case against God (Job 23:4). But when Job truly saw God, he humbled himself and repented.
God uses suffering to transform our hearts, draw us closer to Him, teach us, mature us, and shape us for His purposes. Like Mr. Miyagi in “The Karate Kid” who used seemingly pointless tasks to teach Daniel karate moves, God uses our painful experiences to develop spiritual muscle memory and make us more like Christ.
How Should We Respond to Suffering?
When tragedy strikes, whether nationally or personally, don’t let it numb your mind. Instead:
- Press in to know God better through His Word
- Draw near to God in prayer, having honest conversations with Him
- Allow God to reveal both Himself and yourself more clearly
- Humble yourself when you see sin in your heart
The proper perspective on suffering comes when we remember that God rules, God understands, and God refines in times of suffering. He means to use it for our good.
Why Do We Need Jesus in Our Suffering?
This world wasn’t created with suffering. Our first parents, Adam and Eve, brought sin into the world through their disobedience, resulting in a curse. At its core, suffering exists because of sin.
God loves us so much that He sent His Son, Jesus Christ, to ultimately recreate this world and make all things new. Jesus lived a sinless life, then entered into suffering, culminating in His death on the cross to pay the penalty for our sin. Through His resurrection, He made possible the forgiveness of sins.
When we repent and trust in Him, God forgives our sins, comes to live within us, and rescues us from the greatest suffering—death and separation from Him. He promises to be with us through all our sufferings and to usher us into His presence when death comes.
Life Application
This week, as you process the tragedy of Charlie Kirk’s death or your own personal suffering:
- Memorize Job 42:2: “I know that you can do all things and that no purpose of yours can be thwarted.” Let this truth anchor you when circumstances seem out of control.
- Surrender your right to understand: Instead of demanding answers, pray, “God, I trust that You understand what I don’t. Teach me what I need to learn.”
- Look for God’s refining work: Ask yourself, “How might God be using this suffering to transform me and draw me closer to Him?”
- Share hope with others: Many people are asking questions about suffering. How can you point them to the God who rules, understands, and refines?
- Pray for our country: Ask God to bring good from tragedy and to use these events to draw many to Himself.
Remember, our ultimate hope isn’t in understanding suffering but in knowing the One who suffered for us—Jesus Christ—who will one day deliver us from all suffering forever.